There is a lot the government can do to assist farmers to cope with climate-induced farming problems Climate change, which for India is predicted to result in higher and more erratic precipitations, will have negative impacts on the productivity of important crops such as rice and wheat.
Beyond general climate change trends, what is more critical is the need to address the impact of climate variability and extreme weather events.
Are there government incentives to smooth out climate and weather shocks and make it easier for farmers to cope with price volatility as well as production and income losses?
The answer is yes.
Fighting climate change in agriculture There are many things farmers can do themselves to cope with climate change.
Practices can range from shifting planting dates in response to changing monsoon onset dates, choosing varieties with different growth duration and adopting zero tillage to cope with climate shocks (Haryana).
There is also a lot the government can do to assist farmers to cope with climate-induced farming problems.
Another important government function is drought monitoring and management, especially critical for areas under water scarcity.
Crop diversification India has a wide range of agro-climatic conditions, allowing for a multitude of crops to be grown, even in smaller areas.
However, since the Green Revolution and the expansion of irrigation capacity, there has been a significant narrowing of the number of crops grown when now only six crops take up the vast majority of land, water and resources, adding to the future vulnerability of the food supply system.