ICAR and BISA Launch ACASA-India and Review 15 Years of NICRA | 27 Jan 2026

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.