As the heat in India increases, the rising temperature is also affecting the food security of the country. But how? Temperatures beyond normal are drying up the crops and slowing plant growth, which is one of the most important factors limiting crop production. As heat stress gets worse, plants close tiny openings on their leaves called stomata to conserve water. This helps them save water, but it also means they get less carbon dioxide, which they need to grow. Additionally, if it is too hot during the flowering season, crops like wheat, rice, and many vegetables will produce fewer seeds or fruits. In India, for every 1°C rise in temperature, the yield of crops like wheat, soybean, mustard, groundnut, and potato can drop by 3-7%. In urban areas of India, you have access to almost all fruits and vegetables in scorching summers, however you can note a significant dip in the quality of produce- sometimes the tomatoes are shrivelled or the lemon has turned more bitter than sour. Excess heat can also degrade the quality of fruits and vegetables. Onions and tomatoes can have smaller bulbs if temperatures suddenly rise and citrus fruits like oranges can fall off early and have less sugar and juice if it gets too hot. Because of these changes, farmers may need to change the types of crops they grow or shift where they grow them to cooler areas. India and climate-resilient crops So what’s the solution? India is focusing on climate-resilient agriculture by developing climate-resilient crop varieties, designed to cope with unpredictable weather and boost farm productivity. Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed 1888 climate resilient crop varieties, from 2011-2023, under the flagship network project, namely National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. In August 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 109 new high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified seed varieties. Climate-resilient crops and crop varieties have enhanced tolerance to biotic stresses like pests, weeds, etc. and abiotic stresses like drought, flooding, heat, chilling, freezing, salinity, etc. They are intended to maintain or increase crop yields under stress conditions. Adoption of climate-resilient crops, such as early-maturing cereal crop varieties, heat-tolerant varieties, drought-tolerant legumes or tuber crops, crops or varieties with enhanced salinity tolerance, or rice with submergence tolerance, can help farmers to better cope with climate shocks while increasing production too. Paddy, Climate-resilient agriculture and Telangana Let’s see how this works in real life. Paddy cultivation in Telangana has witnessed a remarkable expansion in recent years. In 2024, the area under paddy cultivation increased to 56 lakh acres. In the tribal hamlet of Errabodu Thanda in Enkuru Mandal, Khammam District, Telangana, farmers grew traditional paddy varieties like BPT Samba, which needed extra chemical fertilisers due to rising temperatures and climate change, leading to high costs but low returns. Excess chemical fertilisers also harm soil health and affect the future agricultural produce of the region. “I never imagined the crop would be this healthy or mature this fast,” says Bhukya Jagya, a farmer from Errabodu Thanda, showing off his flourishing paddy field. He is among 21 farmers who have switched to a different paddy variety and are witnessing remarkable changes on the ground. This variety is Warangal Sannalu. Warangal Sannalu, or Warangal 962, is a fine-grained paddy variety developed by scientists at the Warangal Regional Agricultural Research Centre. Wasundhara Sevak Badavath Shirish introduced this new variety to farmers in Errabodu Thanda during awareness sessions under the ‘Swashakthi’ project supported by John Deere. The sessions highlighted the economic and environmental issues of using chemical fertilisers on traditional varieties like BPT Samba. The Warangal 962 variety is a product of modern biotechnology and is tailored to meet the needs of farmers facing unpredictable climate and market conditions. Unlike other fine-grained varieties that yield only 57–62 kg of rice per quintal during milling, Warangal Sannalu offers an impressive 70 kg of rice per quintal. It matures in just 105 days, making it suitable for shorter growing seasons and less water-dependent conditions, which is particularly advantageous. Bhukya Jagya sowed the Warangal 962 seeds on his half-acre plot using seeds provided under the subsidy programme. Following advice from WOTR, he avoided chemical inputs and used organic fertilisers, particularly liquid Jeevamrutham. The crop matured earlier than expected, saving him 15,000 rupees in fertilisers and delivering a higher yield of 20 bags compared to 12 bags earlier on the same land area. The Way Forward: Embracing Climate-Resilient Agriculture Promotion of Warangal Sannalu has achieved more than just increasing yield — it has restored farmer confidence, reduced agricultural debt, and initiated a shift towards climate-resilient, low-cost farming. This initiative stands as a model for how localised agricultural innovations, community education, and organic practices can dramatically improve livelihoods in tribal and rural communities. Climate-resilient agriculture is the future for rural India. As extreme heat, sudden rains, and unpredictable weather become the norm, farmers need crops that can survive and thrive. Adopting climate-resilient seeds and practices is key to protecting food security and building a stronger, more sustainable future for Indian agriculture. Sources: Heat Wave 2022 Causes, impacts and way forward for Indian Agriculture 109 varieties of Field and Horticultural crops released for climate resilience Source Link: WOTR website