Climate Crisis Threatening India's Food Security

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India’s 1.4 billion population faces an unprecedented challenge as climate change increasingly disrupts agriculture, threatening food security for millions. With the country ranking 105th out of 127 nations in the Global Hunger Index 2024 and 19.46 crore people chronically undernourished, urgent action through climate-smart agriculture has become critical for survival. globalhungerindex

Key Highlights

India ranks 105th in Global Hunger Index 2024 with 19.46 crore people undernourished
Climate change could reduce major crop yields by 10% by 2025 with 1.5°C temperature rise
65% of India’s cultivated land depends on erratic monsoons, making it highly vulnerable
Government schemes like NFSA cover 59% population while PMFBY insured 56.8 crore farmers
NICRA developed 1,888 climate-resilient crop varieties including drought and flood-tolerant seeds

The Climate-Agriculture Crisis Nexus

Rising Temperatures and Extreme Weather

India is experiencing increasingly erratic climate patterns that directly threaten agricultural productivity. By 2025, average temperatures are projected to rise by 1.5°C, potentially causing up to 10% loss in major crop yields. farmnaut

Heat stress during critical growth phases severely impacts staple crops. For wheat, every 1°C temperature increase can reduce yields by 5%. Similarly, rice production faces significant challenges from prolonged heat waves that disrupt flowering and grain formation.

Monsoon Variability and Water Stress

With 65% of India’s cultivated land being rainfed, the country’s agriculture remains extremely vulnerable to monsoon fluctuations. Recent years have witnessed: preventionweb

Delayed monsoons affecting sowing schedules across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana
Erratic rainfall patterns creating both drought and flood conditions in the same season
Extended dry spells followed by intense downpours causing crop damage and soil erosion

Extreme Weather Events Impact

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events affecting agriculture:

Floods and Waterlogging: Destroy paddy, wheat, and sugarcane crops, particularly in eastern states like West Bengal and Bihar.

Landslides and Cloudbursts: Damage terraced farming systems in Himalayan states, affecting apple orchards and hill agriculture.

Cyclones: Particularly devastating for eastern coastal agriculture, causing massive crop and fisheries losses.

Droughts: Affect livestock health, reduce milk production, and force farmers into distress migration.

Impact on India’s Food Security Pillars

Availability: Declining Crop Yields

Climate stress significantly impacts the production of India’s staple crops:

Rice yields are declining due to heat stress and irregular flooding
Wheat production faces threats from rising spring temperatures
Pulse cultivation struggles with erratic rainfall, contributing to protein deficiency
Horticultural crops suffer from unseasonal weather patterns

Accessibility: Rising Food Inflation

Climate-induced crop failures translate into higher food prices, disproportionately affecting poor households. Food inflation creates barriers to accessing nutritious foods, pushing vulnerable populations deeper into malnutrition.

Stability: Disrupted Supply Chains

Frequent extreme weather events disrupt food distribution networks, creating supply chain bottlenecks. Transportation delays during floods or cyclones prevent timely food grain distribution to remote areas.

Nutrition: Quality Deterioration

Climate stress reduces the nutritional quality of crops. Higher CO2 levels decrease protein content in wheat and rice, while heat stress affects vitamin and mineral concentrations in fruits and vegetables.

The alarming statistics reveal the gravity of the situation:

35.5% of children suffer from stunting
18.7% experience wasting
57% of women are anemic
67% of children are affected by anemia

Government Response: Policy Framework & Schemes

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013

The NFSA provides a comprehensive safety net ensuring subsidized food grains to vulnerable populations. Currently covering 59% of the projected population, the scheme distributes rice, wheat, and sugar through over 5 lakh Fair Price Shops across India.

Coverage Statistics:

Target coverage: 75% rural and 50% urban population
Current coverage: 59% under NFSA cards plus 11% under state schemes
Total beneficiaries: 950 million people with NFSA equivalent entitlements

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Launched in 2016, PMFBY provides comprehensive crop insurance coverage against climate risks:

56.8 crore farmer applications enrolled since inception
Rs. 1,55,977 crore claims paid to farmers
Coverage growth: 33.4% and 41% year-on-year increase in 2021-22 and 2022-23
Women participation: 36-48% increase in applications during 2022-23

The scheme covers all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest stages at minimal premium rates for farmers.

National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

ICAR’s flagship program has achieved remarkable success in developing climate-resilient technologies:

Research Achievements:

1,888 climate-resilient crop varieties developed
891 cereal varieties, 319 oilseed varieties, 338 pulse varieties
68 climate-resilient technologies demonstrated across 454 villages
District Agriculture Contingency Plans developed for 650 districts

Climate-Smart Agriculture: The Way Forward

Drought and Flood-Resistant Crop Varieties

India has made significant progress in developing climate-resilient crops:

Rice Varieties:

Sahbhagi Dhan: Drought-tolerant variety suitable for water-scarce regions
Swarna Sub-1: Flood-tolerant rice for waterlogged areas

Millet Revolution:
Following the International Year of Millets 2023, India is promoting these climate-hardy crops:

Pearl millet (bajra): Withstands high temperatures and grows in arid soils
Sorghum: Requires minimal water and thrives in drought conditions
Finger millet: Rich in nutrients and climate-resilient

Heat-Tolerant Crops:

Heat-tolerant wheat varieties for Punjab and Haryana
Drought-resistant pulses like pigeon pea and black gram

Water Management and Irrigation

Efficient water use becomes crucial as climate variability increases:

Micro-Irrigation Technologies:

Drip irrigation systems improve water use efficiency by 40-60%
Sprinkler irrigation for crops like wheat and sugarcane
Per Drop More Crop scheme provides subsidies for precision irrigation

Water Harvesting:

Rainwater harvesting structures in drought-prone areas
Check dams and farm ponds for water storage
Watershed development programs for sustainable water management

Sustainable Farming Practices

Organic Farming Initiatives:

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Rs. 31,500 per hectare assistance over 3 years pib
Zero Budget Natural Farming: Reduces input costs and improves soil health
Biological pest control: 88 biocontrol agents and 31 biopesticides identified ils

Soil Health Management:

Soil Health Cards provide nutrient recommendations to 14 crore farmers
Organic matter enhancement through composting and green manuring
Crop rotation and diversification to maintain soil fertility

Technology and Innovation in Resilient Farming

Digital Agriculture Solutions

Modern technology plays a crucial role in climate adaptation:

Weather Forecasting:

Real-time weather advisories help farmers make informed decisions
Early warning systems for extreme weather events
Satellite-based crop monitoring for yield estimation

Precision Agriculture:

GPS-guided farm machinery for efficient resource use
Soil sensors for monitoring moisture and nutrient levels
Drone technology for crop surveillance and spraying

Agroforestry and Integrated Systems

Tree-Crop Integration:

Agroforestry systems provide shade and wind protection
Bamboo cultivation through National Bamboo Mission
Silvopasture systems combining trees, crops, and livestock

Integrated Farming Systems:

Crop-livestock integration for diversified income
Fish-rice farming in flood-prone areas
Poultry-crop systems for sustainable protein production

India actively participates in global climate initiatives:

Paris Agreement Commitments:

Climate adaptation strategies for agriculture
Technology transfer for sustainable farming
Carbon sequestration through improved soil management

UN Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG-2 Zero Hunger through sustainable agriculture
Knowledge sharing with other developing nations
South-South cooperation for climate-smart practices

Building Resilient Food Systems

Supply Chain Strengthening

Post-Harvest Management:

Cold storage facilities to reduce crop losses
Processing infrastructure for value addition
Transportation networks resilient to climate disruptions

Buffer Stock Management:

Strategic food reserves for emergency distribution
Decentralized storage to reduce transportation costs
Technology-enabled inventory management

Nutrition Security Focus

Diversified Diets:

Promoting millets for nutritional security
Kitchen gardens for micronutrient-rich vegetables
Biofortification of staple crops with essential nutrients

Targeted Interventions:

Anganwadi centers providing supplementary nutrition
Mid-day meal programs ensuring child nutrition
Women-focused nutrition programs to break intergenerational malnutrition

Climate change poses an existential threat to India’s food security, but the path forward is clear. Through climate-smart agriculture, government schemes like NFSA and PMFBY, and innovative farming practices, India can build resilience against climate shocks.

The success stories from NICRA’s 1,888 climate-resilient varieties and the millet revolution demonstrate that solutions exist. However, scaling up these interventions requires sustained effort from government, farmers, and society.

Mains

Q. “Climate change is no longer an environmental issue but a food security challenge for India.” Discuss with examples