Disaster Management Plan of Agriculture Department

Agriculture The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) is a major flagship programme which, in convergence with MGNREGS can provide for better management of water for increased production and productivity by managing tanks, ponds, and other water bodies. In addition, the following can be done: Create of a seed (including planting material) reserve in different parts of the state to take care of likely damages due to floods or drought. It must however, be kept in mind that this reserve is to ensure alternate sowing in bad years and it is likely that some part of the resources have to be written off. A conscious plan to write off such seed, planting material needs to be built into the scheme to avoid audit objections later. Details of the scheme will have to be worked out based on the vulnerabilities of each region since the seeds have to be region specific, crop season and variety specific. This could be done under the National Seed Program also. Pest surveillance and management of pests and diseases should be an integral part of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna.

Agriculture Create additional seed resources for wheat, rice and pulses in districts where the National Food Security Mission operates. The activities mentioned with reference to seed reserves and for pest and disease surveillance could also be taken up under National Horticulture Mission. Agriculture Insurance Schemes need to expand it’s coverage in the Modified National Agriculture Insurance (MNAIS) format and in Weather Based Insurance Systems. Community based knowledge extension systems and local enterprises should be mustered to promote low risk but high yielding agricultural systems.

Agriculture National Horticulture Mission can be more effective with following steps: Augmentation of fruit production from the commons through intensive plantations would be useful for increasing nutrition and also allowing landless to collect and trade fruits. Allocation of user rights should precede such investments. Fruits from commons like tamarind, mango, ber, custard apple, aonla etc., provide significant wage incomes to people at the margin. NHM in rain-fed areas should have a thrust on increasing gross fruit production from all lands in the village rather than mere increase in area under horticulture. Protective irrigation support till the rain-fed horticulture systems are established is a prerequisite for effective establishment.

Agriculture – Challenge from Climate Change The latest data from GHG emissions inventory of 2007 indicates that agriculture sector contributes 28% of the total GHG emissions from India. Indian livestock are responsible for about 54% of total methane emission in India. The emissions are primarily due to methane emission from rice paddies, enteric fermentation in ruminant animals, and nitrous oxides from application of manures and fertilizers to agricultural soils.

Agriculture and Climate Change Keeping in view the utility of Indian livestock population to national economy and food security as well as social needs, this emission is not a threat to the environment. Nevertheless, methods for the mitigation of methane emission from the livestock should be explored. Increasing the dietary energy level will not only improve their productivity but also mitigate the methane emission. Alternatively, some feed additives may be developed to control the methanogenic bacteria in the rumen.

Agriculture – Adaptation to Climate Change A programme for enhancing adaptation of agriculture could consist of adaptation projects/activities aimed at the following : Strengthening surveillance of pest and diseases. Increasing climatic variability and change could lead to rapid movement of pathogens and insect pests. Developing mechanisms for integrated management of rainwater, surface, and ground water. Augmentation of the water resources will be highly complimentary. Weather based insurance products should be provided to increasing number of farmers at an early date for management of enhanced temperature and rainfall risks.

Agriculture- Adaptation to climate change Establishing a science based Agricultural Intelligence System to facilitate understanding of impact of real-time weather and other inputs on production of important commodities. Establishing Weather Watch groups for climate sensitive commodities in ICAR commodity institutes for real-time monitoring of weather impacts and to enable appropriate policy response. Supporting community partnerships in developing food and forage banks to manage scarcity during projected increased periods of drought and floods.

Agriculture- Adaptation to climate change The efforts for making agricultural production more energy efficient should focus on: improving inventories of emission of greenhouse gases using state of art emission equipments coupled with simulation models, and GIS for up-scaling; evaluating carbon sequestration potential of different land use systems including opportunities offered by conservation agriculture and agro-forestry; evaluating the mitigation potential of biofuels and their enhancement by their genetic improvement and use of engineered microbes;

Agriculture and Climate Change- Mitigation Options identification of cost-effective opportunities for reducing methane generation and emission in ruminants by modification of diet, and in rice paddies by water and nutrient management; renewing focus on nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency with added dimension of nitrous oxides mitigation, and (vi) assessing biophysical and socio-economic implications of mitigation of proposed GHG mitigating interventions before developing policy for their implementation. Improved water and fertilizer management in rice paddies;

Agriculture and Climate Change- Mitigation Options Improved management of livestock population and its diet; Approaches to increase soil carbon such as organic manures, minimal tillage, and residue management should be encouraged. Use of nitrification inhibitors, such as Neem-coated urea, and fertilizer placement practices need further consideration for GHG mitigation. Improve the efficiency of energy use in agriculture by using better designs of machinery, and by conservation practices.

Some of the issues related to Agriculture :    Suitable Crops and cropping pattern in flood prone areas. Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides - Impact and alternatives. Organic farming - Prospect and challenges. Mapping of crops and cropping lands-Innovative approach and technologies. Risk Transfer Mechanism for farmers. Agro forestry- Prospect and challenges. Effective ways of crop damage and land degradation assessment in post flood situation.