Key Facts & Data Points

  • Rain‑fed area: ~51% of net sown area, contributing ~40% of food production.
  • Projected yield declines by 2080: Rain‑fed rice – 47%; irrigated rice – 5%; wheat – 40%; kharif maize – 23%.
  • NICRA: Launched in 2011 by ICAR; demonstrated climate‑resilient practices in >448 villages.
  • NMSA: National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture – integrated farming, soil health, water‑use efficiency.
  • BioE3 Policy: Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, Employment – provides a roadmap for scaling CRA.
  • Digital reach: 95.15% villages have 3G/4G, but only 38% of households are digitally literate.
  • Small & marginal farmers: ~86% of farm holdings.
  • Soil & water stress: ~30% land degraded; >60% districts face groundwater stress.

Background & Context

Climate‑Resilient Agriculture (CRA) aims to enhance the ability of crops, soils and farming systems to withstand climate variability and extreme events while maintaining productivity and environmental health. India’s heavy reliance on rain‑fed agriculture and the accelerating frequency of droughts, floods and heatwaves make CRA a strategic necessity for food security and farmer welfare.

Significance for India / Governance / Policy

  • Food security: CRA can mitigate projected yield losses, reducing dependence on imports.
  • Farmer livelihoods: Diversified, climate‑adapted cropping systems stabilise incomes.
  • Environmental sustainability: Practices like agroforestry, organic inputs and precision irrigation lower chemical use and greenhouse‑gas emissions.
  • Strategic autonomy: Enhances self‑reliance in agriculture, aligning with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.

Key Government Initiatives

  • National Innovations in Climate‑Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) – research, demonstration, and scaling of climate‑smart practices.
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) – integrated approach for rain‑fed zones.
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) & MOVCDNER – promotion of organic farming.
  • Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack, Kisan Suvidha App – AI‑based advisories, soil health cards, drone services.
  • BioE3 Framework – aligns biotechnology with climate adaptation and employment generation.

Related Constitutional / Legal Provisions

  • Article 48 (Directive Principles of State Policy) – directs the State to organise agriculture on modern and scientific lines.
  • National Food Security Act, 2013 – mandates ensuring food security, which CRA directly supports.
  • The Biotechnology Act, 2002 – provides regulatory framework for bio‑inputs used in CRA.

Challenges in Scaling CRA

  • Low adoption among small & marginal farmers due to awareness, credit and affordability gaps.
  • Quality and trust deficits in bio‑fertilisers and biopesticides.
  • Limited seed‑multiplication and distribution of climate‑tolerant varieties.
  • Digital divide – low digital literacy hampers precision agriculture.
  • Fragmented policy coordination across ministries.

Recommendations for Further Promotion

  • National CRA Roadmap under BioE3 for policy coherence.
  • Global cooperation with FAO, CGIAR, and climate‑smart initiatives of US, EU, China.
  • Scale digital & precision agriculture while bridging the digital literacy gap (e.g., Bhashini).
  • Strengthen soil & water management – watershed development, micro‑irrigation.
  • Incentivise seed companies for rapid multiplication of climate‑tolerant and genome‑edited varieties.

Conclusion

CRA is essential for safeguarding India’s food security, farmer livelihoods and ecological sustainability in the face of accelerating climate risks. A coherent national roadmap aligned with SDG 2, 12 and 13 can enable resilient, productive, and sustainable agriculture at scale.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What is Climate‑Resilient Agriculture (CRA)?
  • An approach that strengthens the ability of crops and farming systems to withstand climate variability while sustaining productivity and environmental health.
  1. Why is CRA crucial for India?
  • With 51% rain‑fed farmland and rising climate risks, CRA protects food security, stabilises farm incomes and reduces vulnerability to extreme weather.
  1. Key initiatives supporting CRA?
  • NICRA, NMSA, Digital Agriculture Mission, BioE3, PKVY, and various state‑level climate‑smart programmes.

Drishti Mains Question: “Climate‑Resilient Agriculture is central to India’s food security and climate adaptation strategy.” Discuss.