Climate-resilient Agriculture (CRA)
The agricultural sector is at the forefront of the climate crisis and being adversely impacted by rising temperature, droughts, floods, changes in rainfall patterns, changes in cropping pattern, abundance of pest and diseases posing challenges to agricultural pest management etc. India, being a country that relies heavily on agriculture for its economic growth and livelihoods, CRA is an essential component of food security. Climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) is an approach that includes sustainably using existing natural resources through crop and livestock production systems to achieve long term higher productivity under climate variabilities. It actually means the incorporation of adaptation,mitigation and other practices in agriculture which increases the capacity of the system to respond to various climate related disturbances by resisting damage and recovering quickly.
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA AND THE ROLE OF CRA IN IT: –
With a population of over 1.4 billion people, India is one of the world’s largest food producers and agriculture is the primary source of food production in India.
NOTE – Agriculture accounts for 20% of the country’s GDP and providing livelihoods to over 50% of its population.
So, CRA is the way forward to cope with such challenges as it involves sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity and mitigate risks, from the local to global level. Improved access and utilisation of technology, transparent trade regimes, increased use of resource conservation technologies, an increased adaptation of crops and livestock to climatic stress are the outcomes from climate resilient practices.
STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: –
(i) Gene editing: – It is a method to generate DNA modifications at precise genomic location which could have help to overcome the challenges of resistance to chemical treatment as well as the problem of environmental contamination with drug residues.
(ii) Tolerant crops: – To reach deficient downpour conditions, early maturing and drought-tolerant cultivars were brought on fields which provided 20-25% higher yield that indigenous cultivars.
(iii) Water & Soil Management: – Water smart technologies like furrow irrigated raised bed, micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting structure, cover-crop method, deficit irrigation, drainage management, groundwater recharge techniques etc. can support farmers to reach satisfactory crop yield in deficit rainfall and techniques such as contour bunding, farm ponds, check dams, percolation tanks can help in soil conservation.
(iv) Agroforestry: – involves the cultivation of trees along with crops which help to improve soil health and reduce soil erosion and also provides multiple benefits such as wood, fodder, fruit which can improve farmer’s income and livelihoods.
(v) Sustainable agriculture: – These practices involve crop diversification, organic farming, Integrated pest management, reducing greenhouse gas etc.
(vi) Climate information services: – It has been developed to provide farmers with weather forecasts, agro-advisories, other climate related information to manage climate risks more effectively.
NATIONAL PROGRAMMES: –
The Indian government has launched several initiatives to promote CRA including the flagship programme, National Initiative on Climate resilient agriculture (NICRA), The national mission for sustainable agriculture (NMSA). The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is another government initiative that provides crop insurance to farmers against losses due to natural calamities.
Other policy programmes undertaken by the Government of India are:
1) The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY),2015.
2) The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY),2015.
3) Green India Mission,2014.
4) National Project on Organic Farming,2004.
5) National Agro Forestry Policy,2014.

ROLE MODEL: – The ICAR through its network research institute, state agriculture universities and all departments are implementing agriculture contingency plans in about 650 districts of India towards climate change preparedness for the last 7 years.

WAY AHEAD: –
Crucial steps to build CRA systems and achieve sustainable development goals (SDG) in India-
(1) Adaptation of appropriate mitigation technologies such as the cultivation of tolerant breeds.
(2) Water and nutrient management for efficient productivity.
(3) Agro-advisories for timely crop monitoring.
(4) Structural training is essential to build confidence in stakeholders.
(5) Flagship-farmer-oriented programmes are needed to improve skills in agriculture.
(6) Collaboration between farmers, research institution, funding agencies, governments and non-government organisations and private sectors combine strengths to promote CRA.

Chandana Ghosh

University/College name : ICAR-NRRI , Cuttack, Odisha.