Impact of Climate Change on India’s Wheat Production

Syllabus: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country

Source: TH

Context:

India’s wheat production faces severe risks due to climate change, with February 2025 recorded as the hottest in 124 years. Rising temperatures during critical growth stages threaten yield, quality, and food security.

What’s Happening and Why?

• Record-Breaking Temperatures: February 2025 was India’s hottest February in 124 years, with March expected to see excessive heat waves.

• Delayed Sowing Patterns: Indian Ocean warming has disrupted the kharif season, delaying wheat sowing and exposing crops to early-season heat stress.

• Frequent Marine Heat Waves: IITM forecasts up to 250 marine heat wave days per year by the century’s end, intensifying climate risks.

• Lower Procurement Targets: Despite a 115 million tonnes production target for 2024-2025, the government reduced procurement expectations to 30 million tonnes due to climate concerns.

• Export Restrictions: Wheat exports were banned in May 2022 to control domestic supply after reduced production from climate impacts and geopolitical disruptions.

Impact of Climate Change on Wheat Production

• Reduced Yield: Rising temperatures accelerate ripening, causing early flowering and shorter grain-filling periods, reducing yield.

• Degraded Grain Quality: Heat stress reduces starch content, producing harder grains with lower milling value and reduced market demand.

• Resource Misuse: Farmers’ overuse of fertilisers, pesticides, and fungicides to counter climate stress leads to soil degradation.

• Economic Distress: Wheat procurement in 2024-2025 was 26.6 million tonnes, below the 34.15 million tonnes target, causing farmer income loss.

• Threat to Food Security: Lower wheat availability strains the Public Distribution System (PDS) and risks domestic price inflation.

Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies

• Heat-Resilient Crop Varieties: Developing wheat varieties with shorter growth cycles reduces exposure to peak heat periods.

• Early Sowing Practices: Encouraging earlier sowing in heat-vulnerable regions can prevent crops from maturing during extreme temperatures.

• Enhanced Weather Monitoring: Strengthening real-time advisory systems helps farmers make informed decisions on sowing and irrigation.

• Precision Farming Techniques: Techniques such as drip irrigation, soil sensors, and controlled fertiliser use improve efficiency.

• Policy Support: Expanding compensation schemes, climate-specific insurance, and credit facilities can protect farmers from climate-induced losses.

Conclusion

Climate change is increasingly threatening India’s wheat production, reducing yields, compromising quality, and straining farmer incomes. While immediate financial aid is crucial, long-term solutions such as climate-resilient crops, improved weather advisories, and precision farming methods are vital for sustaining wheat production and ensuring food security.

• Give the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). (12.5 M) (2016)