National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

NICRA was implemented in the year 2011. The agricultural sector in India is one of the most climate-sensitive sectors of the economy, providing livelihood to many and providing the nation’s food security. However, climate change has increasingly posed serious threats to agriculture, ranging from erratic rainfall and rising temperatures to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Understanding the urgent need to safeguard agricultural productivity and sustainability, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research launched the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) in 2011, with funding support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. This initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of Indian agriculture in the face of climate variability, promote sustainable farming practices, and empower farmers to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In this article, we are going to cover the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture, its objectives, components, features, outcomes and challenges. 

NICRA Objectives

NICRA was introduced with the goal of transforming Indian agriculture into a climate-resilient system by addressing vulnerabilities across crops, livestock, and fisheries. Its key objectives include:

1. Improving Agricultural Resilience: Developing and deploying improved production technologies and risk management strategies to help agriculture withstand climatic variability and extreme weather events.
2. Showing Adaptive Technologies: Implementing site-specific technology packages on farmers’ fields to showcase practical solutions for managing current and emerging climate risks.
3. Capacity Building: Strengthening the skills and knowledge of scientists, extension workers, and stakeholders in climate-resilient agricultural research, technology dissemination, and field-level application.

By focusing on these objectives, NICRA makes sure that agriculture in India continues to thrive under difficult climate conditions, hence contributing to national food security and rural livelihoods.

NICRA Components

NICRA operates through a multi-pronged approach, with four main components designed to address climate risks in agriculture:

1. Strategic Research: Conducting research on adaptation and mitigation strategies for crops, livestock, and fisheries, aimed at generating solutions to climate-related challenges.
2. Technology Demonstration: Implementing adaptive technologies in 100 climate-vulnerable districts across India to show best practices and site-specific solutions for farmers.
   
3. Capacity Building: Training scientists, extension personnel, and farmers in climate-resilient technologies and practices, while promoting knowledge sharing and awareness.
4. Sponsored Competitive Research: Supporting targeted research projects to address critical knowledge gaps in climate-resilient agriculture.
   

The research component of NICRA is facilitated by the 21 institutes under ICAR, which serve as strategic centres for developing innovative technologies and conducting climate-focused agricultural research.

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NICRA Important Features

NICRA incorporates many advanced strategies and features to promote climate-resilient agriculture:

• Vulnerability Assessment: Analysing crops and agro-climatic zones across India to identify susceptibility to climate stress and extreme weather events, with particular attention to intra-seasonal rainfall variability.
• State-of-the-Art Equipment: Installing flux towers and other advanced tools to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in field conditions, enabling scientists to understand the impact of management practices on emissions.
• Rapid Germplasm Screening: Large-scale evaluation of crop germplasm, including wild relatives, for drought and heat tolerance using phenomics platforms, allowing early identification of promising lines for cultivation.
• Innovative Paddy Cultivation Practices: Checking emerging approaches such as aerobic rice cultivation and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) to reduce GHG emissions, conserve water, and enhance productivity.
• Focus on Livestock and Fisheries: Addressing the overlooked impacts of climate change on livestock and aquaculture, and developing resilient management strategies for these sectors.
• Pest and Pathogen Management: Studying the effect of climate change on pest-crop interactions and monitoring the emergence of new pest and pathogen biotypes.
• Upscaling of Outputs: Upgrading the proven technologies through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and wider adoption by farmers.

NICRA Outcomes

NICRA has delivered many results since its implementation, contributing to both scientific knowledge and practical agricultural solutions:

• Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds: Identification of high-performing crop genotypes and livestock breeds capable of tolerating drought, heat, and other climatic stresses.
• Demonstration of Best Practices: Successful implementation of adaptive farming techniques in 100 vulnerable districts, providing a model for wider adoption.
• Strengthened Research Infrastructure: Upgrading research facilities at key institutes to better monitor, study, and address climate risks in agriculture.
• Skilled Scientific Workforce: Training of scientists, extension personnel, and farmers in climate-resilient agriculture practices, fostering expertise in this critical field.
• Empowered Farmers: Increased awareness and capacity among farmers to cope with climate variability, enabling more resilient and productive farming systems.

Challenges in Implementing NICRA

Irrespective of the successes, NICRA faces many challenges that need to be addressed to fully realise its potential:

1. Less Resources: Adequate funding is necessary to scale up research, demonstrations, and farmer outreach activities across diverse agro-climatic zones.
2. Infrastructure Limitations: Some regions lack the necessary infrastructure for implementing advanced climate-resilient technologies.
3. Institutional Coordination: Effective collaboration between government departments, research institutions, and farmers’ organisations remains essential for seamless execution.
4. Scaling Up: Expanding the reach of successful technologies to a larger number of farmers is a persistent challenge.
5. Policy Integration: Translating research findings into actionable policy recommendations at both national and state levels requires stronger integration mechanisms.

Way Forward

To further strengthen NICRA and ensure its long-term impact, the following measures are critical:

• Increased Funding: Securing additional support from both government and private sectors to expand the initiative’s scope and reach.
• Improved Infrastructure: Investing in state-of-the-art research and field-level infrastructure, particularly in rural and climate-vulnerable regions.
• Enhanced Institutional Coordination: Promoting better collaboration among government agencies, research organisations, and farmer groups to facilitate knowledge sharing and implementation.
• Policy Mainstreaming: Ensuring that NICRA’s findings and recommendations are integrated into national and state-level agricultural development plans.
  

Climate-Resilient Agriculture

NICRA exemplifies the broader concept of climate-resilient agriculture, which refers to farming systems capable of withstanding climatic shocks while maintaining productivity and sustainability. Practices such as crop diversification, soil conservation, water management, and agroforestry play a crucial role in building resilience against droughts, floods, and other extreme events. By promoting biodiversity, improving soil health, and adopting sustainable production techniques, climate-resilient agriculture safeguards food production, strengthens rural livelihoods, and ensures communities are better equipped to face an uncertain climate future.