The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducted a risk and vulnerability assessment of 573 out of 651 predominantly agricultural districts, said a statement by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
According to the assessment, conducted under the scope of the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), 201 districts are highly vulnerable and 109 are very highly vulnerable to climate change.
It estimated that if no adaptation measures are taken, then by 2050, the rainfed rice yields may be reduced by 20 percent and by 2080, by 47 percent. In the case of irrigated rice, the yields are projected to decrease by 3.5 percent by 2050 and 5 percent by 2080.
In the case of kharif maize, the yields are projected to decrease by 18 percent and 23 percent by 2050 and 2080 respectively.
Soybean yields, meanwhile, are expected to increase by 3 to 10 percent by 2030 and 14 percent by 2080.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said that it has taken adaptation measures in 448 villages of 151 agriculturally vulnerable districts. These include planting of climate-resistant varieties, direct seeded rice, efficient irrigation systems, nitrogen application and avoiding crop residue burning.