National Current Affairs
ICAR and BISA Launch ACASA-India and Review 15 Years of NICRA
- 27 Jan 2026
- 2 min read
Why in News?
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) jointly organized a high-level review workshop for the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and the formal launch of the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA–India).
Key Points:
- Launch of ACASA–India (Digital Climate Atlas): A web-enabled digital platform designed to provide location-specific, data-driven adaptation planning.
- Developer: Developed by the ICAR-led National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) in collaboration with BISA–CIMMYT.
- Functionality: It maps climate risks and identifies adaptation options for 15 crops and six livestock species at high resolution.
- 15-Year Review of NICRA:Launched in 2011, NICRA is India’s flagship program to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change through technology demonstration and research.
- Implementation: Currently active in over 200 locations across 151 climate-vulnerable districts.
- Achievements: So far, 11 climate-resilient crop varieties have been developed, and carbon footprints of various crops have been assessed to support future carbon credit systems.
- Strategic Shift: Officials noted that NICRA has reached a "critical juncture" and requires a roadmap aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, shifting from individual farms to broader landscape-level interventions.
- Significance:The workshop underscores the importance of science-led responses to climate challenges in agriculture, promotes resilience building, and aligns with India’s food security and sustainability goals.
- It also highlights the role of digital tools in strengthening farmer adaptation strategies in a changing climate.
| Read More: Indian Council of Agricultural Research,National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture |
