NABARD’s initiatives on Climate Change Dr B R Premi National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Maharashtra Regional Office, Pune www.nabard.org

Contents About NABARD Over view of Indian Agriculture Impact of climate on agriculture Initiatives of NABARD Expectations from the forum

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA Parliament Act 1982

Mission Statement Promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural prosperity through effective credit support related services, institutional development and other innovative initiatives

Functions Credit Functions Regulatory Functions Refinance to Banks Cofinance in association with banks Direct Loan to State Government from Rural Infrastructure Development Fund Grant cum credit programme Venture Capital Assistance to Dairy and Poultry Regulatory Functions Regional Rural Banks Cooperative Banks

Functions Promotional Role Advisory Services - NABCONS Rural Non Farm Sector Farm sector – Water shed development, Natural Resource Management Programme Micro credit and Self Help Groups Farmers clubs Augmenting Subsidy through Govt of India scheme Advisory Services - NABCONS

Indian Agriculture - Strengths Varied agro climatic conditions – Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate & Dry Temperate Plenty of sunshine (Short day and Long day) Variety of soil types (Sandy soils – Black Cotton) Occupies first three ranks in world in number of agricultural products Largest livestock population in World Longest coastline in world

Indian Agriculture - Weaknesses Fragmented land holdings (>80% in 0.5-2.5 acre) Larger dependence on monsoon Rainfed farming (45% net cultivated area irrigated; 18.7% in Maharashtra) Dependence to Agriculture declining (>80% population before 1990s to 55% popln in 2007) Share of agriculture to GDP declining (36.4% in 1982-83 to 18.5% in 2006-2007 Share of capital formation in agriculture to GDP declining (8.6% in 2000 to 5.8% in 2007) Low Yield per Ha (1716 kg/ha; 924 kg/ha in Maharashtra

Climate Change and Agriculture Climate change will have far-reaching consequences for agriculture Crop failure and live stock deaths due to sever diseases and epidemics. The impact already started to occur leading to huge economic losses undermining food security The impact difficult to assess Survival of the poor at high risk Developing countries most vulnerable

Climate change - Five main factors Changes in temperature Variation in quantum of precipitation Changes in carbon dioxide fertilisation Climate variability Surface water runoff

How to overcome? Adapting to climate change Outside financial help most crucial Crop and livestock insurance New and innovative irrigation techniques R&D on flood, heat and drought resistant crops Strong agro metrological data support Mitigating climate change through agriculture Livestock and crops responsible for CO2 emission Agriculture accounts for 15% of global GHG emission Agriculture based deforestation, the contribution goes upto 26-35% of global CHG

NABARD’s initiatives Watershed development programme – more than 2 lakh Ha treated in Maharashtra itself. Wadi development programme originated in Gujarat Umbrella Programme on Natural Resource Management Farmers’ clubs & self help groups Dissemination of weather information through SMS Setting up of Bio Carbon Fund Farmers’ Technology Transfer Fund Rural Innovation Fund and Farm Innovation & Promotion Fund R&D Fund

Expectations Forecasts on monsoon not enough for farmers, but regular agri advisory services most crucial The forecasts skewed towards drought situation, focus on other parameters need to be given. Meteorological agencies to play a crucial role in crop and livestock insurance Farmers’ club network as a channel of information flow on weather & climate change (38,000 nos) ? The Govt. agencies like IMD, IITM, SAUs, KVKs etc. to have partnership with agencies like NABARD on the lines of Reuter Market Lite

Looking forward R&D Proposals on adaptation to climate change Partnership with Indian & Global agencies to strengthen the initiatives Guidance from experts on the field on how to address the issue at the grass root level

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