Government deploys climate-resilient farming, watershed management and soil conservation measures as foodgrain production reaches record 357.73 million tonnes

Key Highlights

• India had 6.38 lakh hectares of manmade desertification and land degradation as of 2018-19, according to the ISRO Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas.
• The government says it has not undertaken a separate assessment of agricultural yield losses specifically attributable to land degradation.
• NICRA covers 651 districts, with 310 identified as vulnerable to climate change.
• 448 Climate Resilient Villages are being supported across 151 vulnerable districts.
• ICAR released 2,900 crop varieties between 2014 and 2024, including 2,661 tolerant to one or more biotic or abiotic stresses.
• Foodgrain production rose from 252.03 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 357.73 million tonnes in 2024-25.
• Horticulture production increased from 280.98 million tonnes to 370.73 million tonnes over the same period.
• Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Ladakh and Karnataka account for some of the largest areas listed under the broader state-wise land degradation assessment.

India is strengthening measures to tackle soil degradation, water stress and climate-related risks in agriculture, even as the government says it has not conducted a separate assessment quantifying crop-yield losses specifically caused by human-induced land degradation.

According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (2021) published by the Space Applications Centre of ISRO, around 6.38 lakh hectares of land was classified as manmade desertification and land degradation in 2018-19.

The government has, however, separately provided state-wise figures covering the broader area under land degradation. The annexure attached to the parliamentary reply puts the combined figure at 97.85 million hectares. These figures represent different classifications and should not be treated as a direct measure of agricultural yield loss.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

ICAR promotes soil restoration and water conservation

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed location-specific technologies aimed at restoring soil health and improving the sustainable use of agricultural land.

These include:

• contour cultivation;
• crop rotation;
• intercropping;
• conservation agriculture;
• mulching;
• green manuring;
• reduced tillage; and
• agroforestry.

For salt-affected soils, ICAR recommends measures such as gypsum application, bio-drainage, subsurface drainage, salt-tolerant crop varieties and biological reclamation.

The council is also promoting soil-test-based nutrient management through General Fertilizer Recommendations and Soil Test Crop Response recommendations.

Water conservation measures include contour and graded bunds, stone bunds, staggered trenches, bench terraces, check dams and farm and community ponds.

Climate-resilient agriculture expanded across vulnerable districts

The government is using the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) programme to assess climate risks and develop agricultural responses.

NICRA covers 651 districts. Of these, 310 districts have been identified as vulnerable to climate change, with 201 classified as highly vulnerable and 109 as very highly vulnerable.

District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been prepared for all 651 districts to provide location-specific responses to weather-related disruptions.

ICAR is also demonstrating climate-resilient technologies including:

• System of Rice Intensification;
• aerobic rice;
• direct-seeded rice; and
• in-situ crop residue management.

Under NICRA, climate-resilient technologies are being demonstrated in 448 Climate Resilient Villages across 151 vulnerable districts in 28 States and Union Territories.

Village-level seed banks and community nurseries are also being supported to improve farmers’ access to quality planting material.

2,900 crop varieties released in a decade

Crop breeding is another part of the government’s strategy to reduce vulnerability to climate and environmental stresses.

ICAR has released 2,900 varieties during 2014-2024, of which 2,661 are tolerant to one or more biotic or abiotic stresses.

These varieties are intended to help farmers cope with challenges including drought, heat, floods, salinity, pests and other production risks.

For the food industry, the development of more resilient crop varieties could have an important long-term implication: greater stability in agricultural production can contribute to more resilient food supply chains.

Government expands micro-irrigation and sustainable farming

Several government programmes are being used to address soil and water degradation.

The Per Drop More Crop programme promotes drip and sprinkler irrigation to improve water-use efficiency, while the Rainfed Area Development programme supports integrated farming systems to reduce risks associated with climate variability.

The Soil Health and Fertility scheme promotes balanced nutrient management, while Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and the National Mission on Natural Farming support organic and natural farming practices.

The government is also using crop diversification initiatives covering pulses, oilseeds, horticulture and agroforestry to improve agricultural resilience.

Crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and weather-based crop insurance schemes provides another layer of protection against climate and natural risks.

Watershed development targets degraded and rainfed land

The Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) is being used to improve rainfed and degraded landscapes.

Its interventions include:

• ridge-area treatment;
• drainage-line treatment;
• soil and moisture conservation;
• rainwater harvesting;
• nursery development;
• pasture development; and
• livelihood support.

The government has also prioritised water conservation under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission–Gramin (VB-G RAM-G), where natural resource management works account for 110 of the 318 permissible works.

Land degradation: State-wise picture

The government’s annexure shows significant variation in the broader area classified as land degradation.

The largest figures listed include:

The 97.85 million hectare figure in the annexure is the total area under the broader land-degradation assessment and should not be read as the area of agricultural land that has lost productivity.

Food production continues to grow

Despite pressure from climate variability, soil degradation and other biotic and abiotic stresses, India’s overall agricultural output has continued to expand.

Foodgrain production increased from 252.03 million tonnes in 2014-15 to a record 357.73 million tonnes in 2024-25.

Horticulture production also increased from 280.98 million tonnes to 370.73 million tonnes during the same period.

The figures indicate that land and climate-related challenges have not prevented continued growth in overall agricultural production, although the government is pursuing additional measures to strengthen long-term resilience.

What it means for hospitality and food businesses

For India’s hotels, restaurants, foodservice operators and food processors, soil and water resilience is ultimately a supply-chain issue.

Agricultural degradation can affect the availability, quality and cost of raw materials used by the food industry. Measures such as micro-irrigation, climate-resilient varieties, soil restoration and watershed development can therefore have implications beyond the farm sector.

More resilient production of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables can help reduce the vulnerability of food businesses to sudden supply disruptions and extreme weather events.

This is particularly important for hospitality businesses that rely heavily on fresh and seasonal produce.

Implications for tourism and destination economies

The issue also has a longer-term travel and tourism dimension.

Rural, agricultural and eco-tourism destinations depend on healthy landscapes, reliable water resources and productive local communities. Soil restoration, watershed development and climate-resilient farming can support rural livelihoods while helping preserve the agricultural and natural landscapes that increasingly form part of tourism experiences.

For destinations promoting farm stays, agri-tourism, local cuisine and farm-to-table experiences, agricultural resilience can become an important part of destination sustainability.

Building resilience from farm to foodservice

The government’s latest measures show a shift towards managing soil, water and climate risks as interconnected agricultural challenges.

While India has not quantified the specific crop-yield losses attributable to human-induced land degradation, the expansion of climate-resilient varieties, watershed management, micro-irrigation and soil restoration programmes indicates a focus on protecting the country’s long-term production capacity.

For the wider food, hospitality and tourism ecosystem, the outcome could be significant: healthier agricultural landscapes and more resilient farm production can support a more stable farm-to-food supply chain, while strengthening the rural economies and destinations that increasingly feed India’s tourism economy.