Kozhikode, Nov 11:
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P.K. Mishra on Wednesday revealed that assessments under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have categorized 310 out of 651 agricultural districts in India as highly or very highly vulnerable to climate change.
Addressing the 20th Annual Meeting of the Environment for Development (EfD) Network virtually at IIM Kozhikode, Mishra warned that global warming has evolved beyond an environmental challenge into a direct threat to agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods, water security, and food inflation. He emphasized that policymakers must shift focus from broad, uniform interventions toward localized, region-specific adaptation frameworks that safeguard vulnerable farm belts against erratic weather events.
Mishra stressed that national food security must encompass nutritional accessibility, pointing out that disruptions in weather patterns directly threaten the availability and pricing of essential proteins, pulses, milk, vegetables, and fruits. Calling for the integration of satellite imagery, ground-level soil monitoring, and granular household surveys, he maintained that data collection must actively anticipate emerging climate disruptions rather than merely recording seasonal harvest shortfalls.