A district level analysis of climate change impact on crop productivity in India

Climate change challenges the sustainability of agriculture and food security in India. The policy planning related to sustainable food systems and agriculture has to consider the possible yield impacts of climate change on major crops preferably at a spatially disaggregated level for better targeting. This paper analysed climate change impacts at district level for major food crops using the district level climate projections for two time periods viz., mid-century (2021-50) and end-century (2071-98). Yields of most crops are projected to decrease in a majority of districts during mid-century period. The yield impacts are deeper and wider during end-century period. The yield impacts are relatively smaller and even positive in case of rapeseed & mustard and soybean. In order to overcome the negative impacts of climate change, agricultural research and extension should be supported to factor in changing climate into their research portfolio more deeply.