India, the world’s second-largest rice producer after China, cultivates paddy on over 410 lakh hectares during the kharif season. While we have achieved 75 per cent coverage of climate-resilient seeds in wheat cultivation, the adoption in paddy is still limited. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kharif crop sowing crosses 575 lakh hectare in the country. About 62.32 lakh hectare under pulses cultivation reported compared to 49.50 lakh hectare during the corresponding period of last year.
The push for climate-resilient seeds comes at a crucial time. Research studies indicate that climate change could reduce rice yields in India by 3-5% under a medium emissions scenario, and up to 31.3% by 2030 under high emissions. The adoption of climate-resilient varieties could play a crucial role in safeguarding India’s rice production in the face of increasing climate uncertainty.
Presentation- Dibyabharati Nayak
