Why are farmers in Maharashtra's poor rainfall areas shifting millet, sorghum, maize, mung beans

By Vikas Meshram*

Since ancient times, farmers have selected crops based on local climatic conditions. However, with climate change, maintaining traditional crops has become increasingly difficult. Some crops may adapt to changing climatic conditions, while others may suffer from reduced productivity. To combat this crisis, it is essential for farmers to adopt climate-resilient crops.

Climate-resilient crops are those that can thrive in specific climatic conditions, yield higher production, and possess greater resistance. For example, crops that can withstand rising temperatures, require less water, and are pest-resistant are considered climate-resilient. Adopting such crops can be beneficial for farmers. It leads to water conservation, soil protection, increased productivity, and enhanced economic stability in agriculture. Moreover, adopting climate-resilient crops can help farmers mitigate losses caused by changing climatic conditions.

Farmers need research and training to adopt climate-resilient crops. They should be provided with information about new methods, technologies, and crop varieties. Scientists, agricultural universities, and government institutions should guide farmers on climate-resilient crops. For this purpose, it is necessary to organize various workshops, demonstrations, and farmer conventions.

For example, in some parts of Maharashtra, due to reduced rainfall, crops like millet, sorghum, maize, and mung beans are prioritized. These crops require less water and can be easily cultivated in drought-prone areas. Additionally, in some regions, climate-resilient rice varieties are adopted, reducing water usage and increasing production. The use of organic farming practices helps retain soil moisture, leading to better growth of climate-resilient crops.

The negative impacts of climate change have threatened our food supply, a reality that cannot be ignored. Changes in monsoon patterns, deadly heatwaves, rising sea levels, and frequent storms have endangered agricultural production. In this context, the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned about these risks. Undoubtedly, the harmful effects of climate change have reached our fields and homes, a challenge that can be met with new strategies.

Concerns are being raised about significant reductions in agricultural production and crop yields due to the effects of climate change. This crisis is particularly severe for small farmers who rely entirely on monsoon rains. In such circumstances, special initiatives are needed to maintain production levels in adverse conditions.

In this direction, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started a project a decade ago focusing on innovations in climate-resilient farming. Recently, several high-yielding climate-resilient crop varieties were launched by the Prime Minister as part of this initiative. The government’s priority is to increase the area under rice cultivation with climate-resistant seeds, especially after successfully developing high-yielding wheat seeds. Without a doubt, we can tackle this severe environmental challenge through sustainable indigenous solutions, which require encouraging private sector participation.

The harmful effects of climate change have reached our fields and homes, a challenge that can be met with new strategies

There is no shortage of programs in the country to adapt to climate change, but there is a need to promote prudent management of available resources. It is crucial to make better use of resources to protect agricultural production from the harmful effects of climate change and safeguard farmers' interests.

Along with this, initiatives should be taken to enhance soil fertility through schemes like water conservation, forest protection, and soil health cards. The use of chemical fertilizers in farming should also be controlled. In this context, there is a need to accelerate the crop diversification program, for which farmers need to be made aware and encouraged.

It is encouraging that organic farming is being promoted on a large scale in many states across the country. However, this program should be nationwide. Incentive schemes in this direction can pave the way for farmers to adopt organic farming.

It is also a reality that merely creating new technologies will not solve the problem. Scientific research needs to be brought to the fields. By utilizing these, farmers can accelerate crop cultivation. Indeed, it is also necessary to practically address what is beneficial for farmers.

There is a need to create nationwide consensus among farmers to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices. For this, both modern research and experiential studies should be prioritized. To truly accelerate these efforts, adequate financial resources must be made available for research, and conclusions useful for agriculture should be delivered to farmers. In this increasingly dire situation, the challenge needs to be included in the national priorities.

We must recognize the reality that we are the most populous country in the world. For the social security of a large population, numerous food grain schemes are run through government granaries. This can only be fulfilled by increasing food grain production, which is possible when our agriculture is capable of coping with the adverse effects of climate change.

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*Social worker and activist working for the rights of tribal and marginalized communities

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