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🌱 How India’s Farmers are Fighting Climate Change with Resilient Crops 🌾🌍

Discover how India's farmers are combating climate change with resilient crops like amaranth, millet, and sorghum. Learn how these climate-resistant varieties, developed by ICAR, help secure food production and promote sustainable farming practices in the face of unpredictable weather and environmental challenges.

Author

Green Glow
October 19, 2024

Climate change has become one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and agriculture is at the forefront of its impact. In India, where farming is the livelihood for over 50% of the population, erratic rainfall patterns, extreme temperatures, and soil degradation have jeopardized crop yields and food security. In response, the Indian agricultural sector is turning to science and innovation, with farmers now embracing climate-resilient crops developed to withstand the environmental stressors caused by a warming planet.

Table of Contents

The Climate Challenge Facing Indian Farmers

India’s agriculture is highly dependent on monsoon rains, which are increasingly unpredictable due to climate change. Severe droughts, intense heatwaves, and irregular rainfall have resulted in significant crop losses in recent years. Additionally, intensive farming practices have degraded the soil, leading to diminished fertility and lower yields.

To combat these challenges, Indian farmers, supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other scientific bodies, are adopting new crop varieties specifically bred to thrive in harsh environmental conditions. These climate-resilient crops promise to secure the future of farming by ensuring stable food production even under unpredictable weather patterns.

The Role of ICAR in Developing Resilient Crops

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has played a crucial role in responding to the agricultural challenges posed by climate change. In a groundbreaking initiative, ICAR introduced 109 new high-yield, climate-resilient crops that include cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural varieties like fruits and medicinal plants. These crops are specifically designed to withstand erratic weather, disease outbreaks, and soil degradation.

Among the newly introduced varieties, 69 are field crops—such as sorghum, millet, and amaranth—that offer better resistance to environmental stresses, while 40 are horticultural crops that provide alternatives for fruits, spices, and vegetables. The development of these crops is a decade-long process, involving crossbreeding for disease resistance, drought tolerance, and other key traits that make them ideal for the changing climate.

Amaranth, Millet, and Sorghum: Climate Warriors of Indian Agriculture

Three of the standout crops leading the charge in India’s fight against climate change are amaranth, millet, and sorghum. These crops are not only resilient but also nutritionally dense, offering a sustainable solution to feed India’s growing population.

  • Amaranth (Jodhpur Rajgira 2): This variety has been specifically bred for climate resilience. It requires less water and can tolerate fluctuating temperatures. Additionally, it is rich in protein, fat, and lysine, making it a highly nutritious alternative to traditional grains like wheat and rice. The crop has already been approved for release across seven Indian states, ensuring its wide adoption.

  • Millet (Jowar): The sorghum hybrid (CSH 30) matures faster than traditional market varieties, making it an excellent option for regions facing erratic rainfall. This millet variety is resistant to multiple diseases, ensuring higher yields in the face of unpredictable weather patterns.

  • Sorghum: Known for its low water and fertilizer requirements, sorghum is a crucial crop for regions affected by drought. Sorghum hybrids developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are also bred to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a more sustainable farming system.

Reducing Environmental Impact with Water-Saving Crops

Water scarcity is another critical issue that Indian farmers face, and traditional crops like rice are notorious for their high water consumption. To address this, ICAR has introduced three low phosphorus-tolerant rice varieties. Two of these varieties can be direct-seeded, a method that reduces water usage by up to 30%. This not only conserves precious water resources but also lowers labor costs and reduces methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas released during rice cultivation.

The introduction of these rice varieties is a significant step toward reducing the environmental footprint of rice farming in India. It highlights the importance of crop diversification in building a sustainable agricultural system that can withstand the pressures of climate change.

The Role of Wheat in Climate-Resilient Farming

Wheat is a staple crop in India, but it is particularly vulnerable to heat stress. In response, ICAR developed the wheat variety HI1665 (Pusa Gehun Sharbati), which thrives in dry areas and is resilient to high temperatures. This variety is a lifeline for farmers in arid regions who are struggling with the rising temperatures brought on by climate change.

Additionally, wheat varieties bred at ICRISAT require less fertilizer, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from synthetic fertilizers. These advances are critical as agriculture is one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Challenges in Adoption: Ensuring Farmers Have Access to New Varieties

While these new crop varieties offer a promising solution to climate change, their widespread adoption faces several challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is the slow rate at which farmers are replacing old crop varieties with new ones. For instance, crops like pigeon pea, chickpea, or groundnut take 15 to 18 years to be fully replaced in the market, while faster-maturing crops like pearl millet hybrids are replaced in just five years.

To accelerate the transition to climate-resilient farming, stronger support for both formal and informal seed systems is necessary. Without access to seeds and proper training, farmers may not be able to reap the benefits of these new resilient crops.

Conclusion

India’s farmers are at the frontline of the battle against climate change, and the introduction of climate-resilient crops is a major step forward in ensuring food security in the coming decades. Through the efforts of ICAR and organizations like ICRISAT, new varieties of amaranth, millet, sorghum, and rice are providing sustainable alternatives that can withstand the unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change.

However, the successful adoption of these crops will require greater investment in seed distribution, education, and support for farmers. With these innovations, Indian agriculture is moving towards a more resilient, sustainable future—one where farmers can continue to feed the nation despite the growing challenges of a changing climate.

FAQs

What are climate-resilient crops?

Climate-resilient crops are specially developed varieties that can withstand environmental stressors like drought, extreme temperatures, erratic rainfall, and poor soil conditions. These crops are bred to maintain stable yields even in adverse climatic conditions.

Why is India focusing on climate-resilient crops?

India is highly dependent on agriculture, which is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including erratic rainfall and extreme temperatures. Climate-resilient crops help farmers protect their yields and ensure food security despite these environmental challenges.

Which crops are considered climate-resilient in India?

Some of the climate-resilient crops introduced in India include sorghum, millet (jowar), quinoa, amaranth (Jodhpur Rajgira 2), and low phosphorus-tolerant rice varieties. These crops are designed to require less water, withstand high temperatures, and offer disease resistance.

How do climate-resilient crops help reduce environmental impact?

These crops are designed to reduce water usage, lower the need for fertilizers, and decrease methane emissions, contributing to a more sustainable farming system. For example, direct-seeded rice varieties can save up to 30% of water and reduce labor costs, helping farmers reduce their carbon footprint.

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