🎒 National Programmes and Policy for Climate Resilient Agriculture
NICRA, NAPCC, NMSA, PMFBY, PM-KUSUM, watershed development, India's NDCs, and state climate action plans for agriculture adaptation.
This lesson builds core elective concepts in BSc Agriculture with practical applications and exam-oriented clarity.
National Programmes and Policy for Climate Resilient Agriculture
Overview
India has developed an extensive policy framework to address climate change in agriculture. This spans from national-level action plans and missions to scheme-specific interventions for farmers. Understanding these programmes is essential for competitive exams and for implementing climate-resilient agriculture on the ground.
NICRA — National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture
NICRA is India's flagship programme for developing and demonstrating climate-resilient agricultural technologies.
Basic Facts
- Launched: 2011 by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)
- Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW)
- Budget: ₹350 crore (Phase I, 2011–2017); ₹350 crore (Phase II, 2017–ongoing)
- Nodal Institute: ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad
Four Components
- Strategic Research: Development of stress-tolerant varieties, agronomic practices for water, heat, and flood management; livestock adaptation technologies
- Technology Demonstration: Field-scale demonstration in 151 climate-vulnerable districts across India; 100 NICRA villages selected
- Capacity Building: Training of farmers, KVK scientists, state agricultural university faculty; skill development for field workers
- National Network on Climate Models: Climate projections, crop simulation modelling, vulnerability assessment for India
Key Technologies Demonstrated
- Stress-tolerant varieties (Sahbhagi Dhan, Swarna Sub1, Pusa Heat Tolerant wheat)
- SRI and AWD for water use efficiency
- Resource conservation technologies (laser land levelling, zero tillage)
- Rainwater harvesting structures (farm ponds, check dams)
- Solar-powered irrigation pumps
- Improved livestock breeds and heat stress management
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) — 2008
Launched by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change in 2008, the NAPCC provides India's overarching climate policy framework through 8 National Missions:
| Mission | Focus |
|---|---|
| NMSA (National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture) | Climate-resilient agriculture |
| NMSKCC (National Mission for Strategic Knowledge) | Climate change research and knowledge |
| National Water Mission | Water conservation and efficiency |
| Green India Mission | Afforestation and forest carbon |
| National Solar Mission | Solar energy expansion |
| National Mission for Enhanced EE | Energy efficiency |
| Sustainable Habitat Mission | Urban sustainability |
| Himalayan Ecosystem Mission | Himalayan ecosystem protection |
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
NMSA is the most directly relevant mission for climate-resilient agriculture:
NMSA Sub-Missions
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PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana): Irrigation expansion and water use efficiency — "Har Khet Ko Pani, More Crop Per Drop"
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PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana): Organic farming promotion — cluster-based, farmer group approach; supports soil health
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Soil Health Card (SHC): Soil testing and fertilizer recommendation — monitors SOC, pH, EC, macro and micronutrients; over 220 million cards issued
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Rainfed Area Development (RAD): Integrated farming systems approach for rain-fed areas
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Agro-Forestry Sub-Mission: Promotes trees on farmland for carbon sequestration and income diversification
PMFBY — Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
PMFBY is India's national crop insurance programme providing climate risk management to farmers.
Key Features
- Launched: February 2016 (replacing NAIS and MNAIS)
- Premium rates: 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, 5% for annual commercial/horticultural crops
- Government subsidy: Union + State governments jointly pay remaining actuarial premium
- Coverage trigger: Yield shortfall in notified area (Area Approach) or weather parameter deviation (WBCIS — Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme)
- Technology: Remote sensing (satellite imagery), drone technology, smartphone apps for crop-cutting experiments
Importance for Climate Adaptation
- Provides financial safety net for farmers during climate extremes (droughts, floods, unseasonal rains, hailstorms)
- Encourages investment in improved varieties and inputs even in risky years
- WBCIS component provides faster payouts based on weather station data (no waiting for crop harvest data)
PM-KUSUM — Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan
PM-KUSUM promotes solar energy for agriculture:
- Launched: February 2019 by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
- Three components:
- Component A: 10,000 MW solar power plants on barren/degraded agricultural land (decentralized)
- Component B: 20 lakh standalone solar agriculture pumps to replace diesel pumps
- Component C: Solarization of 15 lakh grid-connected agriculture pumps
Relevance to Climate
- Replaces diesel pumps → reduces carbon footprint of irrigation
- Reduces farmer input costs for pumping
- Enables irrigation in areas without grid electricity → promotes groundwater recharge via solar-powered drip systems
- Mitigation + Adaptation co-benefit: energy cost reduction + assured irrigation
Watershed Development
Watershed development integrates land, water, and vegetation management at the catchment level:
PMKSY-WDC (Watershed Development Component)
- Successor to IWMP (Integrated Watershed Management Programme)
- Treats degraded and rainfed agricultural lands
- Activities: Soil and water conservation, ridge-to-valley approach, afforestation, groundwater recharge
- Budget: ₹3,000–5,000/ha for treatment
- Managed by: State Watershed Development Agencies
Benefits
- Reduces runoff → improves groundwater recharge
- Reduces soil erosion → maintains productivity
- Creates supplemental water storage for dry-season irrigation
- Carbon sequestration through vegetation restoration
State Climate Action Plans (SCAPs)
- Most Indian states have notified their State Climate Action Plans
- SCAPs identify state-specific climate vulnerabilities, mitigation targets, and adaptation actions
- Agriculture-specific SCAPs include variety replacement, drought-proofing measures, and insurance expansion
- States with notable SCAPs: Maharashtra, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka
India's NDC — Nationally Determined Contributions
India submitted its updated NDC under the Paris Agreement (2021):
Three Key Commitments
- Emissions intensity reduction: Reduce 45% of GDP emissions intensity by 2030 compared to 2005 levels
- Non-fossil electricity: Achieve 50% of electricity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030
- Carbon sink: Create additional carbon sink of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2030
Agriculture's Role in NDC
- Soil carbon sequestration through conservation agriculture
- Agroforestry expansion (targeted 26 Mha by 2030)
- Methane reduction from rice and livestock
- Reduction in synthetic fertilizer use through improved NUE
Key Government Programmes Summary Table
| Programme | Launch Year | Ministry/Agency | Budget | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICRA | 2011 | ICAR/MoAFW | ₹700 cr (Phase I+II) | Climate-resilient tech development |
| NAPCC (NMSA) | 2008 | MoAFW | Multiple | Sustainable agriculture missions |
| PMFBY | 2016 | MoAFW | ₹15,000+ cr/year | Crop insurance |
| PMKSY | 2015 | MoAFW/MoWR | ₹50,000 cr | Irrigation expansion |
| PM-KUSUM | 2019 | MNRE | ₹34,000 cr | Solar pumps for irrigation |
| PKVY | 2015 | MoAFW | ₹2,000+ cr | Organic farming |
| SHC Scheme | 2015 | MoAFW | ₹368 cr | Soil health monitoring |
| PMKSY-WDC | 2015 | MoRD/MoAFW | ₹8,000 cr | Watershed development |
Important Institutions
| Institution | Role |
|---|---|
| ICAR-CRIDA (Hyderabad) | NICRA nodal institute; dryland agriculture research |
| IMD (New Delhi) | Weather data, forecasts, agrometeorological advisories |
| NRSC (Hyderabad) | Remote sensing for agriculture monitoring |
| CGWB | Groundwater monitoring and management |
| NABARD | Rural credit, watershed development financing |
| State Agriculture Universities | Technology transfer, KVK coordination |
Key Terms
- NICRA: National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture — ICAR's climate adaptation programme
- NAPCC: National Action Plan on Climate Change — 2008 overarching policy framework with 8 missions
- NMSA: National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture — agriculture component of NAPCC
- PMFBY: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana — national crop insurance scheme since 2016
- PM-KUSUM: Solar pump solarization scheme for reducing diesel dependence in irrigation
- NDC: Nationally Determined Contribution — India's climate commitment under Paris Agreement
- SCAP: State Climate Action Plan — state-level climate policy framework
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Topic | Key takeaway |
|---|---|
| Main focus | NICRA, NAPCC, NMSA, PMFBY, PM-KUSUM, watershed development, India's NDCs, and state climate action plans for agriculture adaptation. |
| Section context | Revise this lesson with the rest of Policy and Programmes for stronger conceptual continuity. |
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