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30 May 2023 – The Indian Express

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Nutrition in A Warner World

Context:

  • The G7 countries—the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, and Canada—recently emphasised the need to reach a worldwide peak in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2025 at the Hiroshima Summit 2023. They also vowed to implement the “Acceleration Agenda,” which calls for the G7 to achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2040 and for emerging economies to follow suit by the year 2050. By 2060, China will achieve “net zero,” and India will do it by 2070.

Global Warming Status:

  • India was singled out in a 2020 assessment on the economic repercussions of the climate emergency by Oxford Economics, a global forecasting agency, which stated that the nation’s GDP might decrease by 90% by the end of the century if existing policies are not improved.
  • According to the World Meteorological Organization’s 2023 forecast, it is now more likely than not that global temperatures will rise by 1.5°C (2.7°F) or more during the next five years for the first time ever.
  • From 2023 through 2027, annual increases in global near-surface temperatures are predicted to range from 1.1°C to 1.8°C.
  • The annual mean temperature in 2016 was 1.28 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial times (the average of the 1850–1900 era), making it the warmest year ever.
  • According to the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) report from 2023, the year 2022 was 1.15 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial normal, making it the fifth warmest year on record since 2021.
  • The past ten years were the warmest in Indian history.
  • Over the period of 1850–1900, global temperatures were around 1.15°C higher than usual.
  • In the past 100 years, the sea level has risen 4 to 8 inches, and in the following 100 years, it will increase another 4 to 36 inches.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that in order to keep global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F), greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and then be reduced by 43% by 2030;
  • In 2020, the average global per-person GHG emissions were 6.3 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). At 2.4 tCO2e, India continues to be considerably below the global average.
  • According to IPCC, keeping CO2 emissions within a 580 GtCO2 remaining carbon budget means that carbon neutrality will be reached in around 30 years, and 20 years with a 420 GtCO2 remaining carbon budget.

India’s food security situation and potential:

  • At 330 million tonnes in 2022–2023, India will break all previous records for grain output.
  • The Food Corporation of India’s (FCI) rice buffer stock requirements are exceeded by more than three times.
  • The public distribution system (PDS) needs about 22 MT of wheat, and the purchase has been fairly successful (touching 26MT).
  • Both horticulture and livestock have had growth rates that are more than twice as fast as cereals.

Agricultural and food security issues brought on by global warming:

  • According to the Ministry of Agriculture, between 2015–16 and 2021–22, 33.9 million hectares of India’s cropped area were devastated by hydro-meteorological catastrophes, including severe rain and floods.
  • According to a UN research, India lost an average of $87 billion annually as a result of harsh weather.
  • In India’s 151 identified climate-vulnerable regions, the effects of rising temperatures on agriculture, animals, and fisheries will be more pronounced.
  • The number of fishing days and fishing stock are declining as a result of global warming.
  • According to National Dairy studies Institute, Karnal studies, heat stress may have a negative effect on cows’ and buffaloes’ fertility.
  • Significant crops’ nutritional content is declining as a result of rising CO2 levels.
  • Major food crops may have decreased levels of micronutrients like zinc and iron because of a sharp rise in carbon emissions.
  • The IPCC report also issued a warning that the protein content of grains like rice, wheat, barley, and potatoes might decrease by 6 to 14%, increasing the risk of protein malnutrition for over 15 crore more people.
  • The majority of cropland is used for growing rain fed or unirrigated crops, which will be affected.
  • Climate change reduces GDP by around 1.5% because agriculture accounts for 16% of India’s GDP. The yields of rice and wheat are predicted to drop by 6–10% by 2030.
  • The production of rice could potentially decline by 0.75 tonnes per hectare (t/ha) in inland zones and by 0.06 t/ha in coastal regions if temperatures rise by 1-2 degrees Celsius.
  • In addition, a 0.5C increase in winter temperatures is predicted to result in a 0.45 t/ha decrease in wheat yields.
  • Investments in Research Intensity (RI) that fluctuate—
  • The percentage of ARDE in the agri-GDP increased from 0.55% in 2005–2006 to 0.70% in 2010–2011 before falling to 0.48% in 2019–20.

Allocation of ARDE that is unbalanced and distorted by sector:

  • Despite the fact that the livestock industry accounts for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture (54%) and has seen a slight increase in relative share, the soil, water, and forestry sectors have seen their shares decline.
  • The overall RI in agriculture falls short of the goal of “1% of the Agricultural Gross Value Added (AGVA)” recommended by the government of India and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) despite spending on ARDE.
  • Obsolete Basic Staples Approach: The legacy of basic staples like rice and wheat is still present in many important policies and projects.

Steps the Government Has Taken:

  • The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in India includes the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). It includes programmes like the National Bamboo Mission, Agro-Forestry, Rainfed Area Development, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development, and Soil Health Card.
  • Rainwater collection is encouraged by programmes like the Integrated Watershed Management Programme.
  • The Krishi Sinchai Yojana encourages the use of precision farming methods like micro-irrigation.
  • More than 800 million individuals are receiving free rice and/or wheat (5kg/person/month) through the PM-Garib Kalyan Yojana. They are so well shielded from cereal inflation.
  • increased budgetary support for India’s agriculture and related industries by more than 5 times over a ten-year period beginning in 2013–14.
  • With the production of food grains, the agriculture sector has performed well, registering a large increase in exports, and exports of agricultural and related products have surpassed Rs 4 lakh crore.
  • Technology Use:
  • By encouraging the application of artificial intelligence and other technologies, the AI for Agriculture Innovation programme is revolutionising the Indian agricultural industry.
  • A cooperation between scientists and farmers called Biotech-KISAN was established in 2017 with the goal of identifying innovative concepts and technologies that might be applied at the farm level.
  • In order to promote micro-irrigation practises, which currently only cover 10 million hectares of land out of an enormous potential of 70 million hectares, NABARD established the Micro Irrigation Fund, which will distribute money from the fund to the states at a reduced interest rate.

Ideas for improving agriculture productivity:

  • According to ICRIER research, every rupee invested in agri-R&D generates a far higher return (Rs 11.2) than investments in fertiliser subsidies (Rs 0.88), electricity subsidies (Rs 0.79), educational subsidies (Rs 0.97), or transport subsidies (Rs 1.10).
  • In order to boost agricultural production in the face of climate change, agricultural research, development, education, and extension (ARDE) should receive more attention.

Utilisation of Innovation and Technology:

  • It is already possible to create seeds that are more heat resistant.
  • Large amounts of water can be saved with precision agriculture techniques like drip irrigation.
  • For instance, installing sensor-based irrigation systems provides automated control.
  • Fertilisation and the creation of nano-fertilizers can reduce fertiliser subsidies while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.
  • Implementing such cutting-edge farming techniques and/or goods can undoubtedly contribute to more effective use of water and other natural resources, resulting in higher production with fewer inputs and lower GHG emissions.
  • According to studies conducted at the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), mulching not only raises soil organic carbon (SOC), but also conserves water and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

Steps to Take:

  • Through evidence-based policy decisions, the impact of the climate shock must be limited.
  • Expanding innovative and pilot projects is essential for having a larger, longer-lasting impact.
  • increased and balanced funding for agri-R&D.
  • India’s budgetary allotments for ARDE need to almost double. In this scenario, if the Union government can cut its fertiliser subsidy and the state governments’ electricity subsidy, and those savings are reallocated to agri-R&D making sure RI at the very least is 1%, towards addressing the challenge of climate change.
  • There is a need to abandon the legacy of fundamental necessities like rice and wheat in policy. For improved nutrition and lower GHG emissions, this must alter.

Conclusion:

  • In an era of climate change, a well-managed and thriving agriculture sector holds enormous promise for boosting the economy, eradicating poverty, and uplifting the underprivileged, particularly small and marginal farmers. Along with guaranteeing food and nutritional security and sustainable development, it will assist in reaching the goals of doubling farm income. In the end, it will help India grow to a $5 trillion economy by 2024.

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