Climate Change and Food Security Overview

### Climate Change and Food Security

• Climate Change and Food Security are major global challenges:
  • Global agrifood systems emit one-third of all global emissions.
  • Global food demand will increase to feed a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050.
  • Food systems are the leading source of methane emissions and biodiversity loss, using 70% of freshwater.
  • Food waste is the third highest emitter in the world.
• Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a holistic approach to address these challenges:
  • It aims to ensure food security, adapt to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Built on existing knowledge and sustainable principles, CSA explicitly focuses on climate change in agrifood systems.
  • It considers synergies and trade-offs between productivity, adaptation, and mitigation.
  • CSA emphasizes outcomes beyond the farm level, considering social and ecological implications.

Differentiating CSA from Sustainable Agriculture

• CSA is not a reinvention of the Green Revolution. It builds upon existing sustainable agriculture approaches.
• CSA is distinct due to its focus on climate change, the search for synergies and trade-offs, and the availability of new funding opportunities.

Pillars of CSA

• Focus on Climate Change: It tackles adaptation and mitigation challenges while focusing on food security.
  • CSA = Sustainable Agriculture + Resilience - Emissions.
• Outcomes, Synergies, and Trade-offs: Emphasizes analyzing interventions beyond the farm level, considering the interplay of productivity, adaptation, and mitigation.
• New Funding Opportunities: CSA opens up new funding sources for agricultural development, tapping into climate finance for adaptation and mitigation.

Key Government Initiatives in India

• National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)
  • Launched in 2011 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), with an outlay of Rs. 350 crores.
  • Aims to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture (crops, livestock, fisheries) through improved production and risk management technologies.
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
  • Part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), focusing on sustainable development through:
    • Environment friendly technologies
    • Energy efficient equipment
    • Conservation of natural resources
    • Integrated farming
  • Promotes location-specific agronomic practices:
    • Soil health management
    • Enhanced water use efficiency
    • Judicious use of chemicals
    • Crop diversification
• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC)
  • Established to meet adaptation costs of climate change for vulnerable states and union territories in India.
  • Implemented since 2015-16, supporting adaptation activities across sectors like agriculture.
• Climate-Smart Village (CSV)
  • Institutional approach to test, implement, and promote CSA at the local level.
  • Aims to enhance farmers' adaptation abilities to climate change.
  • Pilots were implemented in Karnal district of Haryana and Vaishali district of Bihar.
  • Now expanded to Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMSKY)
  • Launched in July 2015, focusing on water conservation and management in agriculture.
  • Aims to expand irrigation coverage with the motto "Har Khet Ko Paani" (Water to Every Field).
  • Emphasizes water use efficiency through programs like "More Crop per Drop".
• National Livestock Mission
  • Launched in 2014-15, focusing on sustainable livestock development.
  • Aims to protect the natural environment, ensure biosecurity, conserve animal biodiversity, and ensure farmer livelihood.

Impacts of National Programs and Policies

• NICRA:
  • Developed climate resilient technologies for various crops.
  • Prepared district level risk assessments of Indian agriculture to climate change.
  • Developed district agriculture contingency plans and demonstrated location-specific technologies in climate-vulnerable districts.
• PMSKY and MGNREGA:
  • Contributed significantly to water resources conservation and groundwater recharge.
  • PMSKY's Micro Irrigation Fund promotes protective irrigation and water use efficiency.
• Fertilizer Policies:
  • Enhanced crop production and productivity, avoided forest land conversion, and reduced GHG emissions.
  • Neem coated urea has reduced fertilizer input cost, improved nutrient use efficiency, and reduced GHG emissions.
• Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF):
  • Promoted across India.