Prof Sudhakar Dwivedi, Dr Sunish Sharma
Climate change is one of the burning issues of concern and happens to coincide with the decisive stage in the formulation of India’s agricultural policy. Around 1.3 billion people earn their living from agriculture, which is the mainstay of the economy of many countries across the world.Climate change may jeopardize agricultural productivity; millions of farmers may become vulnerable; and feeding the ever-expanding population is already quite difficult. In such a situation, it becomes imperative that a systematic evaluation of Indian agricultural policies is done to ascertain how the country can nurture its growth and survive the challenges of climate change.The climatic variations and geographical factors of India place the country in a dangerous situation as far as climate change effects are concerned. A country like India is familiar with the drought conditions in Maharashtra and Karnataka that did indeed occur and caused miserable situations causing many losses of crops to the extent of getting farmers into severe debt, desperation, and distressed sales of crop products.
Climate change may reduce agricultural productivity by 10-20 per cent by 2050 for key staples, such as wheat and rice bedrock of India’s food security base. Those cuts pose an existential challenge because, by mid-century, India will have to feed about 1.7 billion people. This is further compounded by other prevailing problems such as soil degradation, lack of water, and increasing input costs that further constrain the agricultural sector and jeopardize livelihoods in rural areas.Exclusively, climate change brings forth far more important and comprehensive impacts on agricultural ecosystems beyond immediately challenging crop yields.Thus, an integrated understanding of how climate change impacts agriculture may become a basis for effective policy formulation.Since the beginning of 1947, the policy of agriculture has undergone much change. First, the pressure was put on achieving self-sufficiency in food production, which later materialized as the Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s.Although these have, in due course, led to higher food production and fed, in many cases, more of the world’s hungry, they have had some unintended effects concerning soil degradation, water depletion, and increased emissions of greenhouse gases. The Green Revolution model has been too obsessed with short-term gains in productivity and has short-changed the sustainability of agricultural practices in the long run. Thesteps taken-in the recent past to rectify these issues by launching various policy measures. Initiatives by the National Food Security Act (NFSA), for instance, ensures food for all, and initiatives by Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) are trying to address the issue of irrigation efficiency. While NFSA and PMKSY can only be hailed in the right direction, they often fall short of a comprehensive framework that is required to tackle multi-dimensional issues.The most critical challenge remaining, however, is the continuance of subsidies for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. While these subsidies were aimed at benefiting farmers in general, the overall impact has been that they have encouraged unsustainable practices that would not be viable if done regularly. For instance, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers has led to soil degradation and exposed even more vulnerable farmers to shocks brought about by disasters linked to climate.
Another significant aspect is that the current policies usually do not consider regional variations in farming and local climatic conditions. India is truly a geographically extensively diverse country and so would require region-specific and specific problems of farmers tackled strategies.. This would therefore call for an integrated approach that integrates all the dimensions of agricultural production from crop selection through to irrigation management. One of the most direct and effective ways of enhancing agricultural resilience is through developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and various research institutions are in the process of breeding drought-resistant and heat-tolerant varieties of key crops. New varieties of wheat like HD 3385, HD 3226, DBW187, and DBW222 are some of varieties that require less water as well as they can withstand higher temperatures have seemed promising in regions that are now bound to face increased heat stress. Research and development must be adequately invested in developing diverse crop varieties that will be able to suit the ever-changing climatic factors. While the issue of water scarcity is at the top of the list of concerns of India, this in itself is compounded by climate change. Prime practices sustaining agriculture require improving irrigation efficiency. The PMKSY promotes the use of micro-irrigation systems like drip or sprinkler. The very techniques that would be ushered in can drastically improve water use efficiency. Going for water resources in better manners also reduces dependence on groundwater and gives better crops to farmers. Techniques of rainwater harvesting and watershed management also can be used as a very vital measure of water conservation while enhancing soil moisture.
The Indian government has to decide on agricultural policies and formulate sustainable agriculture to mitigate the change in the climate. However, the gap between declaring the policy and implementing it in the field is very huge due to, insufficient infrastructure, and the unawareness of the farmers. State governments along with agricultural universities, research institutions, and farmer organizations will have to join hands to formulate an effective climate-resilient agriculture strategy.Localization of solutions along with moving along the policy so that it suits the climatic and socio-economic conditions prevalent region-wise can make solutions more effective. Targeted intervention in Punjab or Haryana, which are known for their agricultural productivity, could bring targeted benefits concerning water scarcity and soil health issues. Locality interactions also help to identify problem areas and developments of solutions that resonate with the needs of farmers. The development of public-private partnerships is bound to fuel innovation and investment in sustainable agriculture. New technology and practices that would hone in on resilience and productivity will emerge with the involvement of government agencies, research institutions, and private companies. India will come to construct a stronger and more adaptable system of agriculture if it seizes the capital and the skills of all sectors. Climate change is a global issue that calls for cooperative collaboration and knowledge-sharing around the world. The best practice of India will be to actively participate in such global efforts and exchange the very best practices, technologies, and funding options for adaptation concerning climate change. Participating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and partnerships with countries that have successfully integrated climate resilience into agricultural policies is a good learning experience and resource.Included within its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Paris Agreement would be India’s commitment to a decline in greenhouse gases. This only cements the fact that urgent action concerning climate change needs to be undertaken. It could do so by hosting sustainable agriculture while not harming the environment and society but achieving food security concerning its population.A comprehensive roadmap for such an integrated policy on agriculture is required that integrates environmental, economic, and social considerations into the policymaking process of agriculture. Using proactive measures to take a commitment toward sustainability, India can not only stand up effectively to the challenges that come in the wake of climate change but emerge as a global leader in resilient agricultural practices. That is not just food security but also an attempt to make the sustenance for future generations into a sustainable future.Collaboration, innovation, and a continued commitment to sustainability will transform the agricultural landscape of the country, meet the needs of the population of today, and lay down the structures for an agriculture sector that shall be resilient and prosperous tomorrow. Bright at the very best is the prospect of driving climate change into a reversal in a more sustainable future for its farmers and citizens as awaits India with the step forward toward embracing the change and embracing sustainability principles.
( The authors are Professor (Agricultural Economics) &, Dean Student Welfare, SKUAST-Jammu, and Assistant Professor (Agricultural Economics), Khalsa College, Amritsar, Punjab)
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