Coping with Climate Variability

Abstract

ntroduction National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) is a network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched in February, 2011. The project aims to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate vulnerability through strategic research and technology demonstration. The research on adaptation and mitigation covers crops, livestock, fisheries and natural resource management. The project consists of four components viz. Strategic Research, Technology Demonstration, Capacity Building and Sponsored/ Competitive Grants. The project was sanctioned by the Council vide F.No.4-3/2010-I.A.II dated 12th January, 2011, with a total outlay of 350 crores for 2010-11 (200 crores) and 2011-12 (150 crores) of XI Plan. The project was formally launched by the Hon'ble Union Minister for Agriculture & Food Processing Industries Shri Sharad Pawarji on 2nd February 2011. The rationale for Technology Demonstration Component (TDC) is based on the premise that an array of technologies is available to cope with different types of climate related vulnerabilities in the NARS and that these technologies can be adapted to the current challenges of climate variability. Besides, the farming community also has long standing experience and inherent adaptive capability to various kinds of weather related vagaries. This component is being implemented with the following partners: