310 Indian Farming Districts Face Climate Risk, What Farmers Are Being Asked to Change

Climate change is changing the risks farmers face from droughts, floods, heat and irregular rainfall. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has assessed climate vulnerability across 651 predominantly agricultural districts. The assessment identified 310 districts as vulnerable, including 109 classified as very highly vulnerable.

The government has prepared District Agriculture Contingency Plans for all 651 assessed districts. These plans recommend location-specific crops, varieties and farm practices for weather-related disruptions. The aim is to give state agriculture departments a local plan rather than relying on one farming response across an entire state.

ICAR’s National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture programme is now entering another phase. A stakeholder meeting held at ICAR-CRIDA in Hyderabad from 22 to 24 September focused on turning the approved action plan into location-specific interventions for different farming areas.

Climate-resilient farming means changing crop choices, planting methods, irrigation, soil management and other farm practices to reduce the damage caused by weather extremes. The exact response depends on the local climate, soil, water availability and crops grown in the area.

A farmer facing repeated dry spells may need drought-tolerant varieties, shorter-duration crops, water harvesting or improved irrigation. A farmer in a flood-prone area may need flood-tolerant varieties, raised beds, drainage or contingency crops.

ICAR has already demonstrated location-specific technologies through its Climate Resilient Villages. The government says climate-resilient technologies have been demonstrated through Krishi Vigyan Kendras in 151 districts covering 448 Climate Resilient Villages.

These measures are not limited to changing seeds. They can include direct-seeded rice, aerobic rice, system of rice intensification, water-saving methods and varieties that tolerate drought, heat or other extreme weather conditions.

The choice depends on the problem a farmer faces. A drought-tolerant variety may help during a dry spell, but it cannot replace irrigation where crops require regular water. Similarly, flood-tolerant rice can reduce crop losses in flood-prone fields but does not solve every flood-related problem.

Why are local plans important?

Weather risks differ sharply across India. A farming practice suitable for a dry district in Rajasthan may not work in a flood-prone district of Assam or an irrigated wheat-growing area of Punjab.

ICAR’s district-level approach attempts to account for these differences. The contingency plans recommend practices based on local conditions, while state departments can use them when droughts, floods, heatwaves or other weather disruptions affect farming.

A recent example comes from Sundargarh in Odisha. In July, ICAR’s KVK Sundargarh-I brought agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, irrigation officials, scientists and farmers together to prepare for anticipated El Niño-related risks during the Kharif season.

In Khordha, Odisha, ICAR’s KVK demonstrated flood-tolerant rice varieties including Pooja, Kalachampa and Swarna Sub-1 in low-lying areas. The demonstrations covered 16 acres and were designed to prepare farmers for climate-related risks during the Kharif season.

Such examples show why climate adaptation needs to start at the field level. Farmers need advice that considers the crops they grow, the water they have and the weather risks that are most likely in their area.

What can farmers change on the farm?

Farmers can start with crop and variety selection. Where heat, drought or flooding has become a recurring risk, varieties bred to tolerate these conditions can reduce exposure to crop losses.

Water management is another major area. Rainwater harvesting, farm ponds, drip irrigation and sprinkler systems can help farmers manage limited water where these methods suit the local conditions and crop.

ICAR researchers are also examining the mismatch between crop water demand and groundwater availability. A 2026 government release said ICAR’s analysis found water-demand and groundwater-availability mismatches in several groundwater-depleted states, including Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

This means climate adaptation cannot focus only on increasing irrigation. Farmers also need to consider whether the crop itself is suited to the available water. Crop diversification can reduce pressure on groundwater where suitable alternatives have a viable market.

Soil management also matters. Adding organic matter, recycling crop residues and using fertilisers according to soil-test results can improve soil management. ICAR has promoted balanced fertiliser use, organic manures, green manuring, biofertilisers and residue recycling as part of climate-resilient farming approaches.

What happens when farmers face extreme weather?

A contingency plan becomes useful when the expected crop cannot be planted or survives poorly because of weather. Farmers may need an alternative crop, a shorter-duration variety or a revised sowing window.

The government says District Agriculture Contingency Plans cover 651 districts and recommend location-specific responses to weather aberrations. These plans are intended to support state agriculture departments when weather conditions disrupt normal farm operations.

Farmers can also use weather advisories before making decisions about sowing, irrigation, spraying and harvesting. Local KVKs and agriculture departments can provide information based on regional forecasts and crop conditions.

In Karnataka, ICAR-CRIDA recently advised farmers on preparing for anticipated El Niño conditions. The programme promoted rainwater harvesting, agroforestry, millets, biofertilisers and other practices aimed at improving resilience.

The important point is timing. Climate adaptation works better when farmers prepare before a weather shock rather than waiting until the crop has already suffered damage.

Can climate-resilient farming protect farm income?

No single practice can protect a farm from every climate risk. Resilience comes from combining suitable crops, water management, soil practices, weather information and income diversification according to local conditions.

A farmer may reduce risk by growing more than one crop, using a shorter-duration variety or combining crops with livestock or other farm enterprises. The right mix depends on land, water, labour, markets and local climate risks.

ICAR’s latest NICRA meeting focused on lessons from the previous five years and the preparation of location-specific action plans for the programme’s next phase. This indicates a shift toward more localised climate adaptation rather than treating all vulnerable farming districts in the same way.

For farmers, the practical question is not whether climate change exists. It is which weather risks are increasing in their area and what changes can reduce the damage. District contingency plans, KVK advice and climate-resilient varieties can provide a starting point.

With 310 of the 651 assessed agricultural districts already classified as vulnerable, climate adaptation is becoming part of farm planning rather than a separate concern. The challenge now is making sure the technologies and advice developed through programmes such as NICRA reach farmers before the next weather shock arrives.