India needs climate resilient agriculture
Why in news?
India faces urgent needs for climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) due to climate variability threatening food security and rainfed farming, which covers 51% of net sown area. Recent news highlights renewed policy focus, including the BioE3 Policy, to scale CRA nationwide.​
About BioE3 Policy
India’s BioE3 Policy marks a turning point in scaling climate-resilient agriculture (CRA), aiming to safeguard food security and rainfed farming, which covers over half of India’s net sown area. It integrates biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and AI-driven solutions to help farmers adapt to climate variability.
Need for Climate-Resilient Agriculture
- Rainfed farming vulnerability: 51% of India’s net sown area depends on rainfall, making it highly exposed to erratic monsoons, droughts, and floods.
- Food security risks: Climate variability threatens productivity, soil health, and crop stability, directly impacting national food supply.
- New normal of extremes: Farmers face prolonged droughts, unseasonal floods, rising temperatures, and pest outbreaks.
The BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment)
- Launched in 2024: Approved by the Union Cabinet to foster high-performance biomanufacturing.
- CRA as a thematic sector: Climate-resilient agriculture is a priority under BioE3, with DBT-BIRAC joint calls for proposals.
- Focus areas:
- Biofertilizers & biopesticides to reduce chemical dependence
- Genome-edited crops for drought, heat, salinity, and pest resistance
- AI-driven analytics for localized farming strategies
- Soil microbiome studies to enhance resilience
Challenges & Risks
- Fragmented landholdings: Small farmers may struggle to adopt advanced technologies without support.
- Scaling innovations: Moving from pilot projects to nationwide adoption requires strong extension systems.
- Equity concerns: Ensuring CRA benefits reach rainfed and marginalized farmers, not just commercial agriculture.
- Resource trade-offs: Biomanufacturing must avoid unintended biodiversity loss or overuse of inputs.
Way Forward
- Policy coherence: Align BioE3 with ICAR’s NICRA and state-level schemes for maximum impact.
- Farmer-centric innovation: Ensure accessibility of CRA tools through cooperatives, SHGs, and digital platforms.
- Capacity building: Training farmers in AI-driven advisories, soil health management, and bio-input use.
- Inclusive scaling: Prioritize rainfed regions and vulnerable communities to strengthen food security.
Download Pdf
