Parliamentary Committee Charts Roadmap for Climate-Resilient and Organic Agriculture

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• The Committee on Estimates (2024–25) presented its Sixth Report to Parliament, highlighting India’s urgent need for systemic transformation in agriculture amid rising vulnerabilities due to climate change.

About

• The report lays out a transformative blueprint for Indian farming, that relies on;
  • Climate-resilient practices, 
  • Natural and organic farming systems, and 
  • Strengthening grassroots institutions like Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

Agricultural Vulnerabilities in India

• Climate Change Impacts: According to the report, crop yields are projected to decline by 4.5% to 9% in the medium term.
  • 310 districts are vulnerable, with 109 categorized as ‘very high risk’ and 201 as ‘highly vulnerable‘ by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
• Soil Degradation: Nearly 30% of India’s total land suffers from soil degradation due to intensive chemical-based practices.
  • Overuse of urea and pesticides, alongside declining organic matter, has led to nutrient imbalance, affecting soil fertility and ecosystem services.
• Rising Input Costs: The Green Revolution model has reached diminishing returns, with input costs rising faster than returns, driving indebtedness and farmer suicides.

Shift towards Natural and Organic Farming

• Natural Farming: To motivate farmers to adopt chemical free farming and enhance the reach of natural farming, the Government has formulated National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a separate and independent scheme from 2023-24 by up scaling the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddati (BPKP).
• Organic Farming:
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): A Central Sector Scheme launched in 2015–16, aimed at promoting cluster-based organic farming and Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) for certification.
  • Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): Specifically designed for the North Eastern Region, where traditional farming systems and biodiversity offer a natural advantage for organic cultivation.

Challenges in transition

• Yield drops during initial transition years.
• Certification complexity for organic produce.
• Market linkages remain weak and fragmented.
• Awareness and training gaps among farmers.
• Financial risks for smallholders without safety nets.

Committee Recommendations

• Mainstream climate-resilient agriculture into national schemes like PM-KISAN, MGNREGA, and RKVY.
• Incentivize ecological services provided by sustainable farmers through green subsidies.
• Create a national framework for agroecological transition, integrating research, extension, and marketing.

Way Ahead

• Scale up National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) interventions across vulnerable districts with adequate funding and monitoring.
• Promote agroecological clusters with organic/natural farming models and institutional support.
• Facilitate certification and branding to boost consumer confidence and exports.
• Empower KVKs with digital infrastructure and decentralized funds.
• Promote convergence between ministries of agriculture, environment, and rural development.

Source: ICAR