**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1815 in the Lok Sabha, to be answered on February 10th, 2026, regarding smart agro-food systems and sustainable production practices. The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare addresses key agronomic priorities and related government initiatives. The document highlights steps taken to strengthen research, innovation, and capacity-building, as well as the integration of agronomic focus areas into future agricultural policy-making.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agronomic Priorities:**
* The government has identified key agronomic priorities including climate-resilient, carbon-neutral, and regenerative agriculture.
* **Schemes and Initiatives:**
* Several schemes have been initiated under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture to promote sustainable practices.
* Per Drop More Crop increases water use efficiency through micro-irrigation.
* Rainfed Area Development focuses on Integrated Farming Systems.
* The Soil Health & Fertility scheme promotes integrated nutrient management.
* The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Agroforestry & National Bamboo Mission promote climate resilience.
* Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme provide insurance cover against crop failure.
* **Research and Innovation:**
* The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project.
* NICRA studies the impact of climate change on agriculture and conducts vulnerability assessments.
* Location-specific climate-resilient technologies are demonstrated through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
* ICAR has released 2900 varieties in the last 10 years, of which 2661 are tolerant to biotic/abiotic stresses.
* **Integration and Alignment:**
* The government is aligning existing agricultural schemes with broader agronomic priorities, including digital transformation, soil health, and water use efficiency.
* Efforts are being made to ensure a more integrated, outcome-oriented approach and to reduce duplication of efforts.
* **Capacity Building:**
* 731 KVKs have been established for technology assessment, demonstration, and capacity development.
* KVKs organize capacity-building programs for farmers on new technologies.
* **Policy Alignment:**
* Government is aligning agricultural policies with identified agronomic priorities such as climate-resilient agriculture.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers**
* **Impact:** Increased access to climate-resilient technologies, insurance cover, and capacity-building programs. Mitigation of risks associated with climate variability.
* **Action Required:** Participate in available schemes and training programs, adopt climate-resilient technologies and farming practices.
**Stakeholder: Scientists and Researchers**
* **Impact:** Enhanced research focus on climate-resilient and regenerative agriculture. Opportunity to contribute to capacity-building efforts.
* **Action Required:** Conduct research on identified issues, participate in technology assessment and demonstration programs.
**Stakeholder: Agricultural Policymakers**
* **Impact:** Guidance for future agricultural policy-making based on identified agronomic focus areas.
* **Action Required:** Integrate climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable practices, and resource-use efficiency into future policy decisions.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: Umbrella scheme promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education in India.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Crop insurance scheme providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage due to natural calamities.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): Agricultural extension centers facilitating technology assessment, demonstration, and capacity development for farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare: The central government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1815
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10TH February, 2026
SMART AGRO-FOOD SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES
1815. Smt. Bharti Pardhi:
Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:
Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:
Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:
Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has identified key agronomic priorities such as climate-
resilient, carbon-neutral and regenerative agriculture, if so, the details thereof and if not,
the reasons therefor;
(b) the major components of smart agro-food systems and sustainable production
practices therein;
(c) whether the Government proposes to integrate existing schemes like NMSA, PMKSY,
Soil Health Card, Digital Agriculture Mission and Natural Farming with these agronomic
priorities, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the steps being taken to strengthen research, innovation and capacity-building of
scientists, students and farmers based on the identified issues; and
(e) whether these agronomic focus areas are expected to guide future agricultural policy-
making, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for the same?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): Government has identified key agronomic priorities including climate-resilient,
carbon-neutral and regenerative agriculture to address the challenges of climate change,
resource degradation and sustainable food security. Several schemes have been initiated
under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, to promote sustainable agriculture
practices. Per Drop More Crop scheme increases water use efficiency at the farm level
through micro irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation. Rainfed Area
Development focuses on Integrated Farming System for enhancing productivity and
minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. The Soil Health & Fertility scheme
promotes integrated nutrient management through judicious use of chemical fertilizers.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Agroforestry & National Bamboo
Mission also promote climate resilience. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana along with
weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme provides a
comprehensive insurance cover against crop failure to farmers suffering crop loss/damage
due to natural calamities.Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a project- National
Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) that studies the impact of climate
change on agriculture, conducts district level risk & vulnerability assessment due to climate
change. Under NICRA, 310 districts were identified as climatically vulnerable out of which
109 districts have been categorized as ‘very high’ and 201 districts as ‘highly’ vulnerable.
For enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of farmers, location-specific climate
resilient technologies (such as system of rice intensification, aerobic rice, direct seeding of
rice, zero till wheat sowing etc) have been demonstrated under the project through Krishi
Vigyan Kendras in 151 districts covering 448 Climate Resilient Villages. Capacity building
for village level seed banks and community nurseries is undertaken under NICRA to enable
availability of seed. Drought and flood tolerant climate-resilient varieties of rice, wheat,
soybean, mustard, chickpea, sorghum, gram, and foxtail millet were demonstrated in
several NICRA villages. Besides, training programmes are conducted under Agricultural
Technology Management Agency (ATMA) on various issues of agricultural practices. ICAR
has released 2900 varieties during last 10 years (2014-2024) of which 2661 varieties are
tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses.
(c): Government is progressively aligning and converging existing agricultural schemes
with broader agronomic priorities, including digital transformation, soil health, water use
efficiency, organic/natural farming and other sustainable farming practices. Such merger
will ensure a more integrated and outcome-oriented approach, improve convergence,
reduce duplication of efforts, optimize resource utilization, and strengthen implementation
efficiency.
(d) & (e): Indian Council of Agricultural Research has established 731 KVKs with the
mandate of technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development. The KVKs
organize capacity-building programmes for the farmers on new technologies of agriculture
and allied sectors including those related to climate-resilient and regenerative agriculture.
Government is aligning agricultural policies with identified agronomic priorities such as
climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable and regenerative farming practices, soil and water
conservation, resource-use efficiency, diversification of cropping systems, and reduction
of environmental footprints.
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