Climate-Proofing India's Food System: A Necessity Amidst Climate Change Threats
India has achieved remarkable food security since the 1960s, becoming a major food producer with substantial buffer stocks and legal entitlements through the NFSA, 2013. However, climate change now threatens these gains, with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and water scarcity impacting production, storage, and transport. The challenge is to diversify procurement across crops and regions, moving beyond concentrated procurement to a more climate-responsive system. The article emphasizes building a climate-resilient food system through financial mechanisms like green bonds, adaptation finance, and investment in resilient agricultural value chains. It also highlights the need for better climate information, resilient seed varieties, and public-private collaboration to support smallholders and climate-exposed regions.
Key Points
- India has achieved significant food security, but climate change now poses a major threat to these achievements.
- The current food system, with concentrated procurement in a few crops and geographies, needs diversification to become climate-resilient.
- Financing climate-resilient food systems requires green bonds, adaptation finance, and investment in resilient agricultural value chains.
- Integrating food systems into India's net-zero pathway is crucial for coordinated action across agriculture, water, energy, and nutrition.
- Utilizing climate information, resilient seed varieties, and public-private collaboration are key to supporting smallholders and climate-exposed regions.
Exam Facts
- Foodgrain production reached more than 350 million tonnes in 2024-25.
- The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, provides legal entitlement to foodgrains for around 800 million people.
- The Public Distribution System (PDS) and One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme are mentioned.
- IMD (India Meteorological Department) forecasts are relevant for climate information.
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