WEATHERING THE FUTURE

Why Indian agri-businesses need a climate resilience playbook.

- AJAY S. SHRIRAM

CLIMATE CHANGE is no longer a distant concern—it’s here, in our fields, affecting every sowing cycle and every harvest. Erratic rainfall, extended droughts, heatwaves, and shifting crop patterns are affecting productivity across India. Farmers are witnessing first-hand the effects of climate change—from unseasonal rains ruining harvests to water shortages delaying sowing. Over 120 million Indian farmers rely on agriculture for their livelihood, and for many of them, every season is becoming a gamble. This is not just a rural issue. Agriculture impacts food prices, food security, and the broader economy. With agriculture contributing nearly 18% to India’s GDP and employing nearly half of the population, a climate crisis in farming quickly escalates into a national concern. What's needed is not just mitigation—such as reducing emissions—but solid adaptation strategies that help us stay ahead of climate shocks.

Lessons from around the world

Countries around the globe are already implementing forward-thinking strategies. In the Netherlands, cutting-edge greenhouses and vertical farms powered by AI help optimise resource use and ensure year-round crop production. Israel, despite its arid climate, has become a global leader in drip irrigation and water recycling. Kenya has pioneered satellite-based insurance schemes that offer real-time protection to smallholder farmers.

India can certainly learn from these efforts. But given the diversity of crops, climates, and farmer profiles here, we need home-grown solutions. Despite ICAR projections that yields in rain-fed areas could fall by up to 25%, climate adaptation in India is still scattered across pilot projects, NGO initiatives, and government schemes that often don't scale.

Need for new approach