In the last nine years, the government has introduced approximately 2,380 crop varieties that are both high-yielding and resilient to climate change, aiming to assist small and marginal farmers in addressing the challenges posed by climate shifts. Significantly, 80% of these varieties are designed to withstand abiotic stresses such as climatic conditions and biotic stresses like pests, aiding farmers in adapting to evolving climate patterns.
Additionally, the government has actively supported the implementation of 68 location-specific climate-resilient technologies, developed to be embraced by farming communities on a broader scale. This comprehensive approach is part of a strategy to address climate challenges and enhance the resilience of agriculture. The government has also devised agricultural contingency plans for 650 districts, enabling policymakers to make informed decisions in situations of delayed monsoons and other extreme weather events, directing resources toward crucial developmental programs.
A government study underscores the anticipated decline in the production of major crops over the next two decades due to climate change. The escalating frequency of extreme weather events, irregular rainfall, and drought has led to decreased grain yields, impacting small farmers by increasing farm indebtedness and fostering outmigration. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Arjun Munda, informed Parliament about various research models indicating potential declines in the production of major food crops like rice, wheat, maize, and soybean in the absence of adaptation measures. Simulation modeling studies presented in Parliament project reductions in irrigated rice yields by 3%, rainfed rice yields by 7 to 28%, wheat yield by 3.2-5.3%, maize yield by 9-10%, and an increase in soybean yield by 2.5-5.5% in the period 2020-2039.
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