On Basant Panchami, Dr. Jat Reflects on India’s Climate Resilience and Launches Key Knowledge Portals

New Delhi :- Review Workshop of National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and the Launch-cum-Use Case Workshop of the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA–India), jointly organised by the ICAR and the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), was inaugurated today in New Delhi by Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary(DARE) & Director General (ICAR).

The workshop aimed to synthesise 15 years of learnings from NICRA, assess India’s gains in climate resilience, and chart a convergent, data-driven roadmap to strengthen climate-resilient agri-food systems through integrated science, policy alignment, and targeted investments.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jat stated that Basant Panchami, symbolising knowledge and renewal, was an apt occasion to reflect on India’s climate resilience journey and to launch key national knowledge platforms, including the Akasha Atlas and NICRA portals. Marking 15 years of NICRA, he said that the programme stands at a critical juncture requiring clear strategic direction and a long-term vision. Despite recurring climatic stresses, Indian agriculture particularly in rainfed regions has demonstrated notable resilience and productivity gains, underscoring the effectiveness of climate-resilient technologies, enabling policies, and institutional convergence.

He emphasised that India’s climate resilience is built on an integrated ecosystem of science, policy support, technological innovation, safety nets, human capital, and coordinated implementation, with initiatives such as NICRA, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and livestock and fisheries missions collectively enhancing adaptive capacity and farmer livelihoods. Highlighting the way forward, Dr. Jat called for deeper synthesis of data, learnings, and investments into a unified national climate action platform, supported by a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and a centralised data ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the DG (ICAR), reiterated that India’s experience presents a strong global narrative on science-led, policy-aligned solutions for securing agri-food systems under climate stress, positioning NICRA as a potential global model for climate-resilient agriculture. On the occasion, he also formally launched the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA–India), a web-enabled digital platform developed by ICAR-led NARES in collaboration with BISA–CIMMYT to support location-specific, data-driven adaptation planning. Among other dignitaries present were Dr. A. K. Nayak, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR; Dr.Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR; Dr. B. Venkateshwarlu, Chairman, NICRA Expert Committee; Dr. V. K. Singh, Director, ICAR–Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad; and Dr. P. K. Aggarwal, Regional Program Leader, BISA–CIMMYT.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajbir Singh emphasised that the workshop serves as a critical platform for advancing science at scale and for adopting a holistic approach to climate action. He underscored the need to prioritise robust and credible carbon credit methodologies as a key focus area for future climate action and investment. Dr. A. K. Nayak highlighted that the workshop holds significant relevance for the global agricultural community, as it brings together science, data, and practical insights essential for strengthening climate resilience across international agri-food systems. He noted that the deliberations and outcomes of the workshop would contribute meaningfully to global efforts in addressing climate challenges in agriculture. The workshop also reviewed the progress of NICRA, which is being implemented across more than 200 locations in 151 highly climate-vulnerable districts across the country. Strengthening NICRA’s contributions to climate-resilient agriculture, participants noted, is critical to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. Deputy Directors General and senior officials from ICAR attended the inaugural ceremony