NEW DELHI, 5 June 2025: On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) unveiled a landmark report advocating climate-resilient agriculture as a national priority to mitigate rising risks and income losses among Indian farmers.
Titled “Nourishing the Future: A Report on Climate-Resilient Agriculture,” the white paper was released during a national seminar at the Constitution Club of India. With participation from policymakers, scientists, and Members of Parliament, the event focused on sustainable pathways to supplement farmer income through modern, eco-friendly technologies.
The report highlights projections from the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) warning of 6–25% reduction in wheat yields and 3–15?cline in rice yields by 2050, due to erratic climate patterns. Adding urgency to the matter, data from ICRISAT shows potential 10–30% drop in rain-fed crop yields in semi-arid regions.
Alarming Trends, Unequal Impact
The report paints a grim picture: climate change is already disrupting Indian agriculture through erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, droughts, and new pest outbreaks. These shifts have raised input costs and lowered yields, especially hurting small and marginal farmers, who make up over 80% of India’s agrarian workforce.
“Soil degradation, rising input costs, and groundwater depletion are compounding risks for small farmers,” said Murali Babu, General Secretary, FAIFA. “Programs like NICRA have introduced practical climate-resilient solutions — like solar-powered irrigation and drought-resistant seeds — but more support is needed.”
NICRA: A Beacon of Progress
The report lauds the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), a flagship program by ICAR, for its on-ground impact:
6.93 lakh farmers reached via demonstrations
6.47 lakh stakeholders trained through 23,613 capacity-building sessions
448 Climate Resilient Villages established
650 district-level contingency plans developed
Innovations that Work
Case studies in the report showcase real-world success using climate-smart tools:
IoT-powered precision farming for real-time soil and crop monitoring
Regenerative agriculture techniques like crop rotation and green manuring
Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) to balance yield and input use
Flood- and drought-tolerant crop varieties tested under NICRA
These solutions not only buffer climate impacts but also contribute to carbon sequestration, aligning with India's climate commitments.
Policy Reforms Needed
Despite strong government schemes like PM Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card, and e-NAM, the report notes several implementation challenges: low awareness, high costs, and fragmented infrastructure.
To address this, FAIFA’s reform roadmap calls for:
Greater public R&D investment in climate-resilient seeds
Expanded grassroots training and extension networks
Scaled use of ICT tools and mobile advisories
Subsidies for renewable energy, organic inputs, and micro-irrigation
Incentives for sustainable practices linked to market access
A Mindset Shift: Grow Better, Not Just More
“We must transition from a 'grow more' to a 'grow better' mindset,” said Mr. Babu. “Climate-smart agriculture is not just good for the environment, but also economically viable for farmers.”
FAIFA Vice-President Ather Matheen echoed the sentiment:
“Sustainability must be viewed as a core economic strategy, not a regulatory burden. With support from initiatives like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and e-NAM, farmers can achieve both profitability and resilience.”
Looking Ahead
As India prepares for an increasingly unpredictable climate, the FAIFA report serves as a call to action for government, industry, and civil society to work together. A combined push for technology adoption, policy incentives, and market reform can help secure the livelihoods of millions of Indian farmers — and nourish the future of agriculture itself.
