27 Aug Making India’s Food System Climate-Proof Cannot Wait

UPSC 2027 Editorial Analysis

Subject: GS Paper III – Agriculture, Food Security, Environment & Climate Change
Secondary Linkages: GS Paper II – Welfare Schemes, Nutrition, Governance | Essay

Core Themes: Climate-resilient agriculture, food security, PDS, NFSA, crop diversification, rice-wheat system, millets, pulses, groundwater stress, climate finance, food supply chains

1. Why in the News?

The The Hindu editorial “Making India’s food system climate-proof cannot wait” argues that India has successfully built a strong food-security system, but the next challenge is to make this system resilient to climate change.

India moved from severe food shortages in the 1960s to becoming one of the world’s major food producers. However, rising temperatures, irregular monsoons, floods, droughts, water scarcity and extreme weather events are increasingly threatening agricultural production.

The challenge, therefore, is no longer simply “How much food can India produce?” It is:

“Can India guarantee affordable, nutritious and stable food supplies in an increasingly unpredictable climate?”

This shift from food security to climate-resilient food security is highly relevant for UPSC 2027.

2. India’s Food Security Journey

India’s food-security architecture was built largely in response to the food crisis of the 1960s.

The Green Revolution, expansion of irrigation, high-yielding varieties, MSP-based procurement, buffer stocks and the Public Distribution System (PDS) collectively created a strong food-security framework.

Today, India produces foodgrains at historically high levels. Government data puts 2024–25 foodgrain production at 357.73 million tonnes, with rice, wheat, pulses and other crops contributing to the record output.

At the same time, the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 provides a legal framework for food access. It covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, translating to a maximum intended coverage of about 81.35 crore people.

Therefore, India has developed considerable institutional capacity to address conventional food insecurity.

3. The New Challenge: Climate Change

Climate change changes the nature of agricultural risk.

Major threats include:

• Rising temperatures
• Heat waves during critical crop stages
• Erratic monsoon rainfall
• Droughts
• Flash floods
• Changing pest and disease patterns
• Groundwater depletion
• Soil degradation
• Damage to storage and transport infrastructure

For example, wheat is particularly vulnerable to terminal heat stress because high temperatures during the grain-filling stage can reduce yield.

Similarly, excessive rainfall and floods can damage standing crops, while prolonged dry periods can reduce soil moisture and irrigation availability.

Consequently, higher food production in one good year does not automatically mean long-term food security.

4. The Rice-Wheat System: Success and Sustainability Challenge

India’s rice-wheat system has played a critical role in ensuring food security.

The system became particularly important in the Indo-Gangetic plains, supported by:

• assured procurement;
• MSP;
• irrigation;
• subsidised inputs;
• fertiliser support;
• government distribution through PDS.

However, its geographical concentration has also created ecological pressures.

Major concerns include:

Groundwater depletion:
Water-intensive cultivation of paddy in several north-western regions has contributed to groundwater stress.

Monocropping:
Repeated cultivation of rice and wheat can reduce cropping diversity.

Soil stress:
Imbalanced input use can affect long-term soil health.

Climate vulnerability:
Extreme heat, irregular rainfall and water scarcity can affect both crops.

Therefore, the objective should not be to abandon rice and wheat. Instead, India should retain their food-security role while diversifying the broader food basket.

5. From “Rice-Wheat Security” to “Diversified Food Security”

The editorial’s central argument is that procurement needs to gradually become more diversified across crops and regions.

This can include greater attention to:

• Millets
• Pulses
• Oilseeds
• Maize
• Nutri-cereals
• Regionally suitable crops

Such diversification can generate multiple benefits.

Water Conservation

Many alternative crops can be better suited to water-stressed regions.

Nutritional Security

Pulses provide protein, while millets can contribute to dietary diversity.

Climate Adaptation

Different crops respond differently to heat, rainfall and water availability.

Farmer Resilience

Crop diversification can reduce excessive dependence on a single crop.

Therefore, crop diversification is not merely an agricultural reform; it is a climate adaptation strategy.

6. Why Millets Matter

Millets have gained importance because several varieties can perform relatively well under difficult agro-climatic conditions.

Important millets include:

• Bajra
• Jowar
• Ragi
• Foxtail millet
• Little millet
• Kodo millet

They are often associated with:

• lower water requirements compared with paddy;
• nutritional diversity;
• resilience in semi-arid areas;
• suitability for marginal lands.

However, simply promoting millets through campaigns is insufficient.

Their inclusion in public procurement, PDS, school meals and nutrition programmes needs to be supported by:

• assured markets;
• processing facilities;
• storage;
• consumer awareness;
• remunerative prices.

Hence, procurement policy must support dietary diversification.

7. Pulses: The Missing Link

Pulses are important for both nutrition and agricultural sustainability.

They provide protein and can contribute to soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, particularly in leguminous cropping systems.

India has also recently strengthened its policy focus on pulses. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–26 to 2030–31) has an outlay of ₹11,440 crore and aims to raise domestic pulses production while encouraging crop diversification.

The mission also aims to expand pulses cultivation, including through rice fallows and other suitable areas.

Therefore, pulses can simultaneously address:

Nutrition + Import dependence + Crop diversification + Soil health + Climate resilience

8. PDS Needs a More Diverse Food Basket

The Public Distribution System is one of India’s most important instruments for food security.

Traditionally, however, the system has been strongly associated with rice and wheat.

A climate-resilient PDS could gradually incorporate more:

• millets;
• pulses;
• regionally appropriate cereals;
• other nutritious foods where feasible.

The NFSA itself provides a broad legal framework for food and nutritional support. Eligible Priority Households receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, while Antyodaya Anna Yojana households receive 35 kg per household per month.

Therefore, the next stage should be to move from merely ensuring calorie availability towards nutrition-sensitive food security.

9. One Nation One Ration Card and Climate Resilience

The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) system has improved portability of food entitlements, especially for migrant beneficiaries.

Its significance becomes even greater in a changing climate.

Climate change can increase:

• crop failures;
• seasonal migration;
• livelihood disruptions;
• displacement following extreme weather events.

A portable food-security system can therefore provide greater protection to vulnerable populations.

Consequently, digitalisation of PDS is not merely an administrative reform; it can also strengthen social resilience to climate shocks.

10. Climate Information Must Reach the Farm

Climate resilience cannot depend only on crop diversification.

Farmers also need timely and usable climate information.

Weather forecasts can help farmers decide:

• when to sow;
• when to irrigate;
• when to harvest;
• whether to delay planting;
• how to respond to extreme weather.

The editorial proposes stronger integration of climate information into procurement, buffer-stock and contingency planning.

Useful tools include:

Climate-resilient seeds
Varieties tolerant to heat, drought, floods or salinity.

Micro-irrigation
Drip and sprinkler systems can improve water-use efficiency.

Watershed development
Helps improve soil moisture and groundwater recharge.

Weather-indexed insurance
Insurance payouts can be linked to measurable weather parameters.

Digital advisories
Farmers can receive location-specific information through digital platforms.

11. Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

Climate adaptation must extend beyond farms.

Extreme weather can damage the entire food supply chain.

Priority areas include:

Flood-resilient warehouses
Storage infrastructure should be designed for changing flood risks.

Temperature-resilient storage
Higher temperatures require improved storage technologies.

Cold chains
Essential for fruits, vegetables, dairy, fisheries and other perishables.

Resilient transport
Roads, railways and logistics networks must withstand floods and extreme heat.

Last-mile connectivity
Food must reach consumers even during climate-related disruptions.

Therefore, food security is not simply about agricultural production. It is about the resilience of the entire food system.

12. From Food Security to Nutritional Security

Food security and nutritional security are related but not identical.

Food Security

Focuses on adequate availability and access to food.

Nutritional Security

Also considers:

• dietary diversity;
• protein;
• micronutrients;
• quality of food;
• sanitation;
• health outcomes.

A rice-heavy food basket may provide calories but may not automatically provide a sufficiently diverse diet.

Therefore, India’s next agricultural transformation should combine:

Food security + Nutrition + Water conservation + Climate resilience

13. The Concept of a “Climate Buffer”

India traditionally maintains buffer stocks to protect against poor harvests and supply disruptions.

The editorial proposes thinking beyond conventional grain reserves towards a broader “climate buffer.”

A climate buffer could include:

• diversified crops;
• geographically dispersed procurement;
• resilient warehouses;
• better irrigation;
• climate information;
• crop insurance;
• diversified supply chains;
• strategic food reserves.

The idea is important because a climate shock may simultaneously affect production, transport, storage and prices.

Thus, a physical grain reserve alone may not be sufficient.

14. Climate Finance for Agriculture

Climate-resilient agriculture requires substantial investment.

Possible sources include:

• Green bonds;
• adaptation finance;
• agricultural insurance;
• public investment;
• private investment;
• blended finance;
• climate funds.

The editorial also links food-system transformation with India’s broader net-zero pathway, suggesting that agriculture should combine adaptation with measurable emission reductions and carbon sequestration.

This is significant because agriculture is simultaneously:

A victim of climate change + A source of greenhouse-gas emissions + A potential carbon sink

15. India’s Policy Challenge

India faces a difficult balancing act.

Objective 1: Food Availability

The country needs sufficient foodgrains for its large population.

Objective 2: Farmer Income

Farmers need remunerative and predictable returns.

Objective 3: Ecological Sustainability

Agriculture cannot continue indefinitely on excessive groundwater extraction and input-intensive practices.

Objective 4: Nutritional Diversity

Food policy must move beyond cereals.

Objective 5: Climate Resilience

The system must withstand increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

Therefore, agricultural policy should shift from production maximisation alone towards resilient and sustainable productivity.

16. Way Forward

A 7-Point Climate-Proof Food Strategy

1. Diversify Procurement

Expand procurement beyond rice and wheat to pulses, millets, oilseeds and regionally appropriate crops.

2. Align MSP and Procurement With Ecology

Price incentives should encourage crops suitable for local water and climate conditions.

3. Promote Climate-Resilient Seeds

Increase research and distribution of drought-, heat-, flood- and pest-resistant varieties.

4. Strengthen Water Management

Promote micro-irrigation, watershed development, groundwater recharge and efficient water use.

5. Build Resilient Supply Chains

Upgrade warehouses, cold chains, transport and food-processing infrastructure.

6. Integrate Climate Information

Connect IMD forecasts and local advisories with sowing, procurement, insurance and contingency planning.

7. Strengthen Climate Finance

Expand adaptation finance, agricultural insurance, green bonds and investment in resilient value chains.

Prelims Practice Questions

Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:

1. It provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
2. Priority Households are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month.
3. Antyodaya Anna Yojana households are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per person per month.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A. 1 and 2 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. NFSA provides coverage of up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.

Statement 2 is correct. Priority Households are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month.

Statement 3 is incorrect because AAY households receive 35 kg per household per month, not per person.

Question 2

With reference to climate-resilient agriculture, consider the following statements:

1. Crop diversification can reduce dependence on water-intensive crops.
2. Climate-resilient seed varieties can help farmers adapt to heat and drought stress.
3. Diversifying procurement across crops and regions can reduce concentration-related risks in the food-security system.
4. Climate resilience in food systems is limited only to agricultural production.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A. 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Crop diversification, climate-resilient seeds and diversified procurement can improve resilience.

Statement 4 is incorrect. Climate resilience must cover the entire food supply chain, including storage, transportation, cold chains, markets and distribution.

Mains Practice Question

India has moved from a paradigm of food scarcity to one of food security, but climate change requires a transition towards climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems. Discuss.
(Answer in 250 words)