National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

The National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) is a crucial step towards ensuring India’s food security in the face of climate change. By promoting research, technology development, and capacity building, it has the potential to transform Indian agriculture into a more resilient and sustainable system. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), its objective, components, features, outcomes, and other related aspects.

About National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

• The National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) is a program launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change in the agricultural sector.
• It aims to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture to the impacts of climate change through a multi-faceted approach involving research, technology, and community engagement.
• It was launched in 2011 by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with the funding from Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

Objectives of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

The major objectives of the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) are as follows:

• To enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture covering crops, livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through the development and application of improved production and risk management technologies.
• To demonstrate site-specific technology packages on farmers’ fields for adapting to current climate risks.
• To enhance the capacity of scientists and other stakeholders in climate-resilient agricultural research and its application.

Components of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

The four major components of the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) are as follows:

• Strategic research on adaptation and mitigation.
• Technology demonstration to cope with current climate variability in 100 vulnerable districts.
• Capacity building Sponsored competitive research to fill critical gaps.
• The 21 Institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research are there for strategic research.

Features of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

• Critical assessment of different crops/zones in the country for vulnerability to climatic stresses and extreme events, in particular, intra-seasonal variability of rainfall.
• Installation of the state-of-the-art equipment like flux towers for measurement of green house gases in large field areas to understand the impact of management practices and contribute data on emissions.
• Rapid and large scale screening of crop germplasm including wild relatives for drought and heat tolerance through phonemics platforms for quick identification of promising lines and early development and release of heat/drought tolerant varieties.
• Comprehensive field evaluation of new and emerging approaches of paddy cultivation like aerobic rice and System for Rice Intensification (SRI) for their contribution to reduce the GHG emissions and enhance water saving.
• Special attention to livestock and fishery sectors, including aquaculture which have not received enough attention in climate change research in the past.
• Thorough understanding of crop-pest/pathogen relationship and the emergence of new biotypes due to climate change.
• Simultaneous up-scaling of the outputs both through KVKs and the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture for wider adoption by the farmers.

Outcomes of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

The initiative has led to some significant outcomes, which can be seen as follows:

• Selection of promising crop genotypes and livestock breeds with greater tolerance to climatic stress.
• Existing best bet practices for climate resilience demonstrated in 100 vulnerable districts.
• Infrastructure at key research institutes for climatic change research strengthened.
• Adequately trained scientific manpower to take up climate change research in the country.
• Empowered farmers to cope with climate variability.

Challenges of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

The initiative faces several challenges as can be seen as follows:

• Limited resources: The initiative requires adequate funding to expand its reach and impact.
• Infrastructure constraints: Lack of infrastructure in some regions can hinder the implementation of climate-resilient technologies.
• Institutional challenges: Coordination among different government departments and stakeholders is crucial for effective implementation.
• Scaling Up: Expanding the reach of successful technologies and practices to a larger number of farmers remains a challenge.
• Integration with Policy: Ensuring that the findings and recommendations from NICRA are integrated into national and state-level agricultural policies still needs to be improved.

Way Forward

• Increase funding: Secure additional funding from both government and private sources.
• Improve infrastructure: Invest in infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas.
• Strengthen institutional coordination: Enhance collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, and farmers’ organisations.

Conclusion

The National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) represents a critical effort by the Indian government to address the challenges posed by climate change to agriculture. Through its comprehensive approach, it aims to build a more resilient agricultural sector capable of adapting to the evolving climate scenario. As climate change continues to impact global agriculture, initiatives like NICRA will play a pivotal role in ensuring food security and sustainable development.

Climate Resilient Agriculture

• Climate-resilient agriculture encompasses a range of practices and strategies to enable farming systems to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
• This approach focuses on enhancing the sustainability and productivity of agricultural practices while minimising environmental impact.
• Techniques such as crop diversification, soil conservation, and water management are integral to building resilience against extreme weather events like droughts and floods.
• By promoting biodiversity and improving soil health, climate-resilient agriculture secures food production and strengthens rural communities, ensuring they can thrive in the face of an uncertain climate future.

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