digantsharma As climate variability increasingly affects agriculture across India, the National Institute for Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) has launched a new wave of training programs designed to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary to tackle the challenges of changing weather patterns. These hands-on sessions, being conducted throughout the summer of 2025, are a vital part of India’s larger effort to build climate resilience in its rural economy.
Conducted in partnership with state agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and local panchayats, the program emphasizes low-cost, high-impact techniques to protect crops and livestock from the effects of erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and unseasonal heatwaves.
🌾 Program Highlights
The training focuses on five key areas:
- Climate-Smart Crop Planning
Farmers are taught how to choose climate-resilient crop varieties, adopt staggered planting, and manage cropping calendars based on changing monsoon patterns. - Soil & Water Conservation Techniques
Practical demonstrations include mulching, contour bunding, rainwater harvesting, and micro-irrigation systems that help conserve resources during dry spells. - Livestock Shelter & Nutrition Management
Sessions cover shaded housing structures, heat stress management in dairy animals, and alternative fodder strategies during droughts. - Disaster Preparedness & Risk Reduction
Farmers are introduced to early warning systems, weather advisory apps, and crop insurance schemes like PMFBY to mitigate climate-related losses. - Agroforestry & Carbon Farming
Participants learn how to integrate tree farming with crops and livestock to improve carbon sequestration, restore soil health, and diversify income.
🌍 Building Local Agri-Climate Leaders
Each workshop is designed to not just impart knowledge, but also build local agri-climate leaders who can mentor other farmers in their community. Participants receive manuals in local languages, hands-on toolkits, and access to follow-up digital learning via WhatsApp groups and the NICRA mobile app.
“Before this training, I thought droughts were unavoidable disasters,” said Nandlal, a farmer from Telangana. “Now I know how to prepare and protect my crops better.”
