Climate change is no longer a distant risk for Indian agriculture. Erratic rainfall, frequent heatwaves, declining soil fertility, and rising pollution are already disrupting farm productivity. For a country that must ensure food security for a growing population, the question is no longer whether agriculture should adapt, but how quickly it can do so. This is where climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) becomes central.
What climate-resilient agriculture seeks to achieve
Climate-resilient agriculture refers to farming systems designed to withstand climate stresses while sustaining or improving productivity and environmental health. Unlike conventional input-intensive models, CRA emphasises smarter, science-led interventions that reduce vulnerability rather than merely boosting short-term yields.
It combines biotechnology with complementary tools such as biofertilizers, biopesticides, soil-microbiome analysis, and climate-smart agronomic practices. Advances in genome editing make it possible to develop crop varieties tolerant to drought, heat, salinity, floods, or emerging pest pressures. Alongside this, artificial intelligence and data analytics help integrate weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop requirements to generate location-specific advisories for farmers.
Why India’s agriculture is especially vulnerable
India’s dependence on climate-sensitive farming systems makes adaptation urgent. Nearly 51% of the country’s net sown area is rainfed, yet this land produces about 40% of national food output. Such regions are highly exposed to rainfall variability, prolonged dry spells, and extreme weather events.
Conventional farming practices alone are increasingly inadequate to cope with these stresses. Rising costs of chemical inputs, soil degradation, and water scarcity further limit their effectiveness. CRA offers an alternative pathway by enhancing resilience while reducing ecological damage.
Institutional push towards climate-resilient farming
India has taken early steps to mainstream climate resilience in agriculture. In 2011, launched the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. Under this initiative, location-specific technologies such as system of rice intensification, aerobic rice cultivation, direct seeding of rice, zero-till wheat sowing, climate-tolerant crop varieties, and in-situ residue management have been demonstrated across hundreds of climate-resilient villages.
At the policy level, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture focuses on improving productivity in rainfed areas through integrated farming systems, efficient water use, soil health management, and resource conservation. More recently, the BioE3 Policy has explicitly identified climate-resilient agriculture as a key thematic area for biotechnology-led solutions.
Role of biotechnology and digital agriculture
Several components of CRA are already being deployed on the ground. Biofertilizers and biopesticides that enhance soil health and reduce chemical dependence are commercially available. At the same time, India’s digital agriculture ecosystem is expanding rapidly.
Agritech startups now offer AI-enabled crop advisories, precision irrigation systems, pest and disease surveillance tools, and yield prediction platforms. When effectively integrated, these technologies can help farmers make informed decisions in response to changing climatic conditions.
Constraints in scaling climate-resilient agriculture
Despite progress, scaling CRA across India faces significant hurdles. Adoption among small and marginal farmers remains limited due to lack of awareness, affordability constraints, and uneven access to quality inputs. Inconsistencies in the quality of biofertilizers and biopesticides have weakened farmer trust in biological alternatives.
The rollout of climate-resilient and genome-edited seeds has been slow, with uneven uptake across States. Digital tools, though promising, are constrained by gaps in connectivity, data literacy, and access to smartphones. These challenges are compounded by accelerating climate volatility, soil degradation, and water stress, which may outpace current adaptation efforts if policies remain fragmented.
Building a credible roadmap for resilience
The way forward requires coordinated and sustained action. India must accelerate research, approval, and deployment of climate-tolerant and genome-edited crops while ensuring biosafety and public confidence. Stronger quality standards and supply chains for biofertilizers and biopesticides are essential to improve reliability and adoption.
Equally important is expanding access to digital tools and climate advisories tailored to small landholders. Financial incentives, climate-linked insurance products, and easier access to credit can help farmers manage transition risks. Above all, India needs a coherent national climate-resilient agriculture roadmap under the BioE3 framework, aligning biotechnology, climate adaptation, and farm policy to deliver resilience at scale.
What to note for Prelims?
- Definition and components of climate-resilient agriculture.
- National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project.
- Role of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.
- BioE3 Policy and its focus on biotechnology-led solutions.
What to note for Mains?
- Explain why India’s agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate change.
- Evaluate the role of biotechnology and digital tools in building climate resilience.
- Discuss challenges in scaling climate-resilient agriculture among small farmers.
- Suggest policy measures for mainstreaming CRA in India’s food security strategy.
