The world is currently experiencing significant climate change, leading to increased temperatures, rising sea levels, changes in cultivation patterns, and crop production, among other effects. According to data from 2022-23, around 18-19% of India’s GDP is contributed by agriculture and related activities. Consequently, climate change can have a noticeable impact on Indian agriculture.
• Challenging for specific crops: Crops like beet, broccoli, wheat , Cauliflower and other kharif crops tend to grow better in colder weather. An increase in temperature raises a challenge in their cultivation.
• Water Scarcity: The rising temperature levels also deplete the freshwater supply. India has approximately 4% of the world’s total freshwater reserve, 80% of which is utilized for agriculture. In India, agriculture without adequate irrigation is nearly impossible.
• Decrease in food supply: In case of challenging cultivation environment crop failure becomes common which poses a further negative impact on the availability of food crops in the long run. In India most food crops experience crop failure at a rate of 30-25 per cent.
Given the current situation, the Government of India has implemented sufficient research programs, actions, and schemes in response.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: As the name suggests the organisation not only focuses on sustainable Agricultural practices but also studies soil health, Climatic science, monitoring, modelling and networking.
• National Action Plan on Climate Change: Set up in 2008 by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change; the primary aim of the organisation is to protect restore and enhance India’s diminishing forest cover so as to bring climate change under control.
The government also carries out numerous other activities to mitigate climate change. Agriculture is a significant part of the Indian economy, and its vulnerability to climate change is a cause of concern that requires immediate attention.