Food-Security-Under-Climate-Stressand.pptx

Food security and what need to be done

1. Food Security Under Climate Stress Climate change presents a formidable challenge to India's food security, threatening a nation where over half the population depends on climate-sensitive agriculture. This comprehensive analysis examines how climate change impacts the three core dimensions of food security: availability, access, and absorption.

2. The Scale of India's Food Security Challenge 194.6M Undernourished People India is home to the largest number of undernourished people globally 55% Population Dependent Over half of India's population relies on climate-sensitive agriculture 12% Global Emissions Agriculture contributes nearly 12% of world's annual greenhouse gas emissions Despite impressive economic growth, India's progress in reducing undernutrition has been slow, with many states falling into the 'alarming' category of the Global Hunger Index. The agricultural sector finds itself both contributing to and suffering from climate change impacts.

3. Climate Change Threatens Food Availability Food availability faces direct threats through declining crop yields, water scarcity, and resource degradation. Rising temperatures and altered weather patterns are projected to significantly reduce yields of India's staple crops, threatening decades of agricultural progress. Wheat Production Loss 4-5 million tonnes lost for every 1°C temperature rise. 0.5°C winter warming reduces yields by 0.45 tonnes per hectare. Rice Yield Decline 2°C increase projected to decrease yields by 0.75 tonnes per hectare in high-yield areas. Future Projections Without adaptation: 20% rice decline by 2050, 47% by 2080. Wheat yields could fall 19.3% by 2050.

4. Water Crisis Intensifies Agricultural Vulnerability Widespread Water Stress 54% of India faces high to extremely high water stress. About 54% of groundwater wells are declining, with 16% falling by more than one meter annually. Punjab and Haryana, crucial food-producing states, are among the most water-stressed regions in the country. Maharashtra's Vulnerability Agriculture is primarily rainfed with only 18.2% of crop area under irrigation. High dependence on monsoon rainfall makes the state extremely susceptible to climate projections. Projections suggest 10-15% increase in year-to-year monsoon variability, directly impacting cultivation patterns.

5. Small Farmers Bear the Greatest Burden Climate change disproportionately affects India's most vulnerable farmers - the small and marginal landholders who are least equipped to cope with climate shocks due to limited resources and dependence on rainfed agriculture. 51% Marginal farmers owning up to 1.0 hectare in Maharashtra 28% Small farmers owning 1.0 to 2.0 hectares 60% Income decline during 2012-13 drought in Jalna district In Maharashtra, average land holding has shrunk from 4.28 hectares in the 1970s to just 1.34 hectares today. Nearly eight out of every ten farmers have less than two hectares, making their livelihoods extremely precarious.

6. Urban Food Insecurity and Distress Migration Climate impacts extend beyond rural areas. When farming livelihoods collapse, families migrate to urban slums, shifting hunger from rural to urban geographies and creating new challenges for food security. Rural Climate Disasters Crop failures and income shocks force farming families to abandon their land Distress Migration Families move to urban slums seeking work, joining ranks of urban poor Urban Malnutrition Over 36% of urban children under five are underweight in some states

7. Hidden Hunger: Climate's Impact on Nutrition Climate change threatens food absorption through declining nutritional quality and increased disease burden. Elevated CO2 levels reduce essential nutrients in staple crops, while changing climate patterns increase disease incidence. Declining Nutritional Quality Higher atmospheric CO2 reduces protein, zinc, and iron concentrations in wheat and rice. This exacerbates "hidden hunger" - micronutrient deficiency that weakens immune systems and impairs cognitive development. Increased Disease Burden Warmer temperatures increase diarrhoeal diseases. Ganga basin projections show 13.1% average increase in waterborne diarrhoea. Vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue expand their geographic range.

8. India's Policy Response: NAPCC Framework The Government of India launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008, outlining eight core missions. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is paramount to food security. 01 Climate-Smart Research ICAR has developed 1888 climate-resilient crop varieties since 2014, focusing on heat, drought, and salinity tolerance 02 Sustainable Practices Promoting location-specific improved agronomic practices and sustainable resource management 03 Weather Insurance Expanding weather insurance coverage to protect farmers from climate-related losses 04 Extension Services Developing robust village-level services to disseminate technologies and sustainable practices

9. Building Climate Resilience: Key Strategies Water Resource Management Improve agricultural water efficiency through micro-irrigation systems. Invest in water conservation, harvesting, and watershed management programs. Critical for rainfed regions like Maharashtra. Social Safety Nets Strengthen NREGA and align projects with climate adaptation. Consider urban employment guarantee schemes for climate migrants. Focus on marginalized populations most vulnerable to shocks. Urban Food Security Address malnutrition in urban slums through expanded public distribution systems. Increase public health expenditure to manage climate-sensitive diseases affecting nutrient absorption.

10. Securing India's Food Future Climate change is not merely an environmental issue but a profound socio-economic challenge threatening India's food security across all dimensions. Building resilience requires urgent, coordinated action integrating agricultural sustainability, public health, and social protection. Immediate Action Required The future of millions of vulnerable Indians depends on science-driven policies that treat food security as a national priority linking multiple sectors. Collaborative Approach Success demands cooperation between government agencies, research institutions, local communities, and international organizations for inclusive adaptation. Opportunity for Transformation With urgency and commitment, climate challenges can become opportunities to redesign India's food system for sustainability and long-term prosperity.

11. Thank You Present by: Jayesh Pawar Dhiraj Kotwal Ganesh Deore