Climate Change and Rainfed Agriculture

Climate change impacts on agriculture are being witnessed all over the world, but countries like India are more vulnerable in view of the high population depending on agriculture, excessive pressure on natural resources and poor coping mechanisms. A large area of land under dryland agriculture is expected to undergo changes in rainfall patterns, temperature and extreme events over the next several decades due to climate change thus making rainfed agriculture more risk prone. Improved technologies and new policy initiatives are needed to enable farmers cope with climate change impacts. Adaptation and mitigation options through cropping systems based and resource conservation based technologies are discussed in this article. Apart from the use of technological advances to combat climate change, there has to sound policy framework and strong political will to combat climate change. Policy initiatives in relation to access to banking, micro-credit/insurance services before, during and after a disaster event, access to communication and information services is imperative in the envisaged climate change scenario. The key issues of the Sub Mission on Sustainable Agriculture in India's National Action Plan on Climate change are highlighted.