The challenges posed by climate change to India’s agriculture sector took center stage at the businessline Agri and Commodity Summit 2025, held in New Delhi on January 10, 2025. Union Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi highlighted the Centre’s two-pronged strategy — adaptation and mitigation — to ensure the sector’s resilience and sustainability.
Key Initiatives to Combat Climate Change in Agriculture
Adaptation Strategies
- Climate-Resilient Crops
- Development of drought- and flood-resistant crop varieties to withstand extreme weather conditions.
- Efficient Water Management
- Introduction of advanced techniques to optimize water use in agriculture, ensuring sustainable irrigation practices.
- Crop Insurance
- Providing financial cushions to farmers in the event of extreme natural calamities through expanded crop insurance coverage.
Mitigation Efforts
- Natural Farming
- Promoting chemical-free farming to reduce environmental degradation and improve soil health.
- Carbon Market Incentives
- Leveraging carbon credits to motivate farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, contributing to carbon neutrality goals.
Role of PACS in Climate Resilience
Union Ministry of Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani emphasized the pivotal role of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in building climate resilience:
- Expanded Functions: Plans to transform 2 lakh PACS into multi-purpose entities, broadening their roles beyond credit and input supply.
- Grain Storage Points: Establishment of 70,000 rural grain storage centers, operated by PACS, to reduce transportation costs and serve as procurement hubs.
- Crop Insurance Expansion: Current crop insurance schemes cover 40% of farmers, but efforts are underway to extend this to 100% coverage.
NABARD’s Green Initiatives
Shaji K.V., Chairman of NABARD, outlined four pillars to address climate challenges:
- Accelerating Green Lending
- Facilitating loans to support climate-resilient agricultural practices.
- Data Access and Digitization
- Creation of a comprehensive data warehouse for agriculture and rural sectors in collaboration with UNDP and other agencies.
- Formalizing tenant farmers to improve access to credit and government schemes.
- Green Transformation
- Mobilizing resources to fund eco-friendly agricultural initiatives.
- Resource Mobilization
- Supporting climate-resilient activities through sustainable financial mechanisms.
Key Discussions and Innovations
The summit featured various sessions and interactions aimed at addressing climate risks and advancing agricultural innovation:
- Irregular Monsoons and Climate-Resilient Seeds
- Drone and Solar Didis: Demonstrations of drone technology and solar-powered innovations.
- Digitization in Agriculture: The role of technology in transforming agricultural practices.
- Bioenergy and Price Risk Management: Exploring alternative energy sources and mitigating market uncertainties.
Event Partners and Sponsors
The businessline Agri & Commodity Summit 2025 was presented by NABARD, co-powered by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSSI), and supported by various partners, including:
- NCDEX, Indofil, Bayer, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd, Kribhco Agri, NSE, Aqua Group, and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
- State Bank of India (SBI) served as the banking partner, while NDTV Profit was the broadcast partner.
Conclusion
The Centre’s comprehensive approach to mitigating the risks of climate change in agriculture emphasizes innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration. By focusing on climate-resilient practices, digitization, and community participation through PACS, the government aims to secure farmer livelihoods and ensure food security amidst growing environmental challenges.