Climate change, the looming threat to agriculture, particularly in India, demands immediate attention. A report underscores India’s high vulnerability to climate change, with the Indo-Gangetic belt—one of the world’s most fertile regions—expected to be severely impacted. Currently, this belt produces around 15% of the world’s wheat, but by 2050, climate change could reduce this output by up to 50%.
Given the Ganga’s extensive reach from Bijnor to Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, which lies within the Indo-Gangetic belt, will inevitably face significant challenges. As Uttar Pradesh leads the nation in producing milk, food grains, vegetables, and various fruits, climate change threatens the state and the entire country’s food and nutritional security.
The Yogi government’s proactive measures, with strong support from the Modi government at the center, offer hope in the face of this crisis. Experts suggest key strategies to mitigate the impact, including agricultural diversification, expanding crop coverage, developing climate-resilient species, achieving higher yields at lower costs, promoting natural farming, and ensuring fair product prices promptly. These efforts could protect farmers and lead to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.
The expansion of irrigation resources plays a crucial role in this context. Fortunately, Uttar Pradesh is naturally endowed with favorable conditions, and the Yogi government has further strengthened this by completing long-pending national projects like Bansagar, Arjun Sahayak Canal, and Saryu Canal. In addition, more than three dozen small and medium irrigation projects were completed during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath”s tenure, irrigating over 23.23 lakh hectares of additional land. Today, 86 percent of Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural land is irrigated.
This expansion of irrigation capacity, combined with the state’s nine distinct agro-climatic zones, has significantly increased crop coverage and agricultural diversification, thereby reducing the risks associated with monoculture. The government continues to promote these practices, ensuring the sustainability of farming in Uttar Pradesh. Ensuring farmers receive a fair price for their crops is also vital. Under the Modi government, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops has been increased, and new crops have been included under MSP to support agricultural diversification and address climate change challenges.
Recently, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh announced MSP procurement for tur, urad, and lentils, which will yield multi-dimensional benefits for farmers. Promoting pulse cultivation and reducing imports will save valuable foreign currency. Notably, India is the world’s largest importer of pulses. As the most populous country, any increase in domestic demand tightens international markets, driving up import costs.
By boosting pulse production and availability, the poor will gain better access to essential protein. Additionally, pulse crops naturally fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting subsequent crops. Short-duration pulses like urad and moong also allow for an additional crop between Rabi and Kharif, increasing crop coverage. Under the leadership of the Modi-Yogi government, initiatives like Kisan Samman Nidhi and Crop Insurance are empowering farmers, making them self-reliant while providing economic and social security.
The promotion of natural farming is another key element in addressing climate change challenges. Notably, the Central Government has taken a significant step in agricultural development by introducing 109 new varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops. These varieties, well-suited for different agro-climatic zones, offer high yields and resilience to diseases, pests, and climate variability, which is particularly beneficial for Uttar Pradesh’s diverse climate.
