Introduction

India’s food system faces mounting stress from climate variability, declining soil health, and environmental degradation. Agriculture must simultaneously ensure food security for a growing population and adapt to rising climate risks. Conventional farming systems, particularly in rainfed regions, are proving inadequate under these pressures. Climate-resilient agriculture offers a pathway to sustain productivity while safeguarding ecological stability.

Why in the news?

Climate-resilient agriculture has gained renewed attention as India confronts increasing climate unpredictability, declining soil health, and rising pressure on food security. With nearly 51% of India’s net sown area being rainfed and contributing about 40% of total food production, climate variability poses a systemic risk to agricultural output and farmer livelihoods. 

Why is Climate-Resilient Agriculture Necessary for India?

1. Rainfed Agriculture Dependence: Nearly 51% of India’s net sown area remains rainfed, producing about 40% of national food output, increasing vulnerability to rainfall variability.
2. Climate Variability Exposure: Erratic monsoons, heat stress, droughts, and extreme weather events directly affect crop yields and farm incomes.
3. Population Pressure: Rapid population growth intensifies demand for reliable and stable agricultural productivity.
4. Limits of Conventional Farming: Input-intensive methods show declining returns under climate stress and contribute to soil degradation and pollution.

What is Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA)?

1. Biotechnology Integration: Uses biofertilisers, biopesticides, and soil-microbiome analysis to reduce chemical dependence while maintaining productivity.
2. Genomic Interventions: Enables development of genome-edited crops tolerant to drought, heat, salinity, and pests.
3. Digital and AI-Based Tools: Applies AI-driven analytics to integrate climate and agronomic variables for location-specific advisories.
4. Sustainability Orientation: Balances productivity enhancement with soil health and environmental protection.

Where Does India Stand Today on CRA Adoption?

1. Institutional Leadership: In 2011, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research launched the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project.
2. Technology Demonstration: CRA practices demonstrated across 448 climate-resilient villages.
3. Key Interventions Implemented:
   1. Cropping Techniques: System of Rice Intensification (SRI), aerobic rice cultivation.
   2. Resource Efficiency: Zero-till wheat sowing, direct seeding of rice.
   3. Soil Management: In-situ incorporation of rice residues.
4. Outcome: Enhanced adaptive capacity and resilience of farmers to climate variability.

How Does the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture Contribute?

1. Productivity Enhancement: Focuses on improving yields, especially in rainfed regions.
2. Integrated Farming Systems: Encourages crop-livestock-resource integration.
3. Water Use Efficiency: Prioritises efficient irrigation and moisture conservation.
4. Soil Health Management: Supports balanced nutrient use and organic matter restoration.
5. Resource Synergy: Aligns conservation with productivity goals.

What is the Role of Biotechnology and BioE3 Policy in CRA?

1. Policy Positioning: BioE3 policy identifies CRA as a key thematic area for biotechnology-led solutions.
2. Commercial Readiness: Several CRA-relevant technologies already commercialised.
3. Bio-inputs Expansion: Companies supplying bio-inputs that improve soil health and reduce chemical dependency.
4. Private Sector Participation: Signals transition from pilot-based models to scalable solutions.

How is Digital Agriculture Strengthening Climate Resilience?

1. AI-Enabled Advisory Services: Provide real-time, location-specific climate advisories.
2. Precision Irrigation: Optimises water use under variable climatic conditions.
3. Crop Health Monitoring: Enables early detection of stress and pest outbreaks.
4. Yield Prediction Tools: Improve risk assessment and planning for farmers.

Conclusion

Climate-resilient agriculture is no longer optional for India’s food system. High dependence on rainfed farming, combined with climate volatility, necessitates a coordinated national strategy integrating biotechnology, digital tools, and institutional support. India’s early investments through NICRA, sustainable agriculture missions, and biotechnology policies provide a foundation, but scaling and coherence remain critical for long-term resilience.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2016] Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). 

Linkage: This question directly links to GS Paper III themes of agricultural vulnerability, climate risk, and risk-mitigation mechanisms. Climate-resilient agriculture frameworks emphasize crop insurance (PMFBY) as a financial resilience tool to buffer farmers against increasing climate-induced crop losses.

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