CLIMATE RESILIENT FARMING 

Why in the News? 

Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Food processing presented ‘Promotion of Climate Resilient Farming’ Report. 

Key-highlights of the Report: 

  • Climate Change in India: 
      • Increase in Temperature: Increased approx by 0.7 °C between 1901 and 2018. 
      • Warming of the Indian Ocean: The average Sea Surface Temperature (SST) increased by 1 °C (globally 0.7 °C) from 1951 to 2015. 
      • Changes in Rainfall: Experienced a decline of approx 6% between the years 1951 and 2015, particularly noticeable over the Indo-Gangetic Plains and the Western Ghats. 
      • Increase in Droughts: In regions such as Central India, the South West coast, the Southern Peninsula, and NorthEastern. 
  • Impact of Climate Change on India agriculture: 
    • Crops: Projected decline in rainfed rice, wheat, kharif maize yields by 2050. Other crops such as chick pea, cotton and pigeon pea are projected to have beneficial effects due to reduced frost events. 
    • Horticulture: It is also predicted there will be a shift in crop zones of Apple and other temperate crops. Flooding significantly affects tomato and onion cultivation.
    • Livestock: The estimated annual milk loss due to heat stress in cattle and buffalo in India is about 1.8–2 million tonnes. 
    • Fisheries: According to the IPCC, If Sea Surface Temperature (SST) increased there will be reduction in plankton concentrations in coastal waters, which could have a negative impact on overall population of fish larvae and adult fish. 
About Climate Resilient Farming:

  • It 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. 
  • It will essentially involve judicious and improved management of natural resources viz., land, water, soil and genetic resources through adoption of best practices.
  • Significance:
    • Reduces hunger and poverty in the face of climate change for forthcoming generations. 
    • These practices can alter the current situation and sustain agricultural production from the local to the global level.

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