India Releases 2996 Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties, Establishes Climate-Resilient Villages Across 28 States To Tackle Extreme Weather Risks

India has released 2,996 climate-resilient crop varieties between 2014 and 2025 under the National Agricultural Research System led by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The initiative supports farmers by developing complementary agronomic practices such as direct-seeded rice, zero-till wheat, and stress-tolerant crop adoption to mitigate climate-related risks. The National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) program, launched in 2011, focuses on capacity-building for farmers and stakeholders through demonstrations and training on climate-adaptive technologies. NICRA has conducted vulnerability assessments across 651 agricultural districts, identifying 310 as highly or very highly vulnerable to extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and heat waves. To address these challenges, Climate Resilient Villages have been established in 448 villages across 151 vulnerable districts spanning 28 states and union territories. These villages serve as models for wider replication of appropriate technologies. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) further strengthens climate-resilient farming through interventions in water-use efficiency, soil health management, and sustainable agricultural systems. These efforts aim to enhance agricultural sustainability while reducing climate-related risks for farmers.