Realizing that the climate change is likely to have major impacts on agriculture, the Government through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has assessed the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture under different scenarios using crop simulation models.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has conducted climate change impact analysis on crop yields through various centres in different parts of the country using crop simulation models (INFO-CROP and HAD CM3) for 2020, 2050 and 2080. The results indicate variability in temperature and rainfall pattern with significant impacts on crop yields. These studies projected reduction in yields of irrigated rice by about 4% in 2020, 7% in 2050 and 10% in 2080.
Rainfed rice yields are likely to be reduced by 6% in 2020, but in 2050 and 2080 they are projected to decrease only marginally (<2.5%). Climate change is projected to reduce timely-sown irrigated wheat production by about 6% in 2020. In case of late sown wheat, however, the projected reductions are to the extent of 18, 23 and 25 percent in 2020, 2050 and 2080 respectively. Yields of irrigated kharif maize may decrease by about 18% in 2020 and 2050 and about 23% in 2080 due to climate change. Rainfed sorghum yields are projected to decline marginally (2.5%) in 2020 scenario and by about 8% in 2050.
The Government through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has initiated a network project on ˜National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture™ (NICRA) to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture through Strategic Research on adaptation and mitigation (covering crops, livestock, fisheries and natural resource management), Technology Demonstration, Capacity Building and Sponsored/Competitive Grant Projects.
Besides, a mission document on National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was accorded in-principle approval by the Prime Minister™s Council on Climate Change. NMSA identifies 10 key dimensions for promoting sustainable agriculture practices by implementing programme of action through four functional areas, namely, Research and Development, Technologies, products and practices, Infrastructures and Capacity building. The programmes of action have been embedded and mainstreamed under the ongoing schemes of Ministry of Agriculture through selective up-scaling and course correction measures.
