There is no specific data indicating that due to disasters like climate change, heat, heatwave and locusts, the infestation of pests and incidence of diseases in crops like cotton and Moong have increased to 33% or more causing huge economic loss to the farmers. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a project namely National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) that studies the impact of climate change on agriculture including crops, livestock, horticulture and fisheries. It also develops and promotes climate resilient technologies which helps the regions prone to extreme weather conditions like droughts, floods, frost, heat waves, etc. to cope with such extremes. Incidence of diseases in crops in relation to climate change under field conditions are being addressed through database development on insect pests, diseases and weather for important crops across 12 agro-climatic zones under NICRA.

The financial assistance under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)/National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) is provided in the wake of notified natural calamities. Additionally for risk mitigation for crop loss due to various reasons government is implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to protect the farmers from climate hazards, Government has introduced flagship yield based Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) along with weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) from Kharif 2016. The scheme aims to support sustainable production in the agriculture sector by providing financial assistance to farmers suffering crop loss or damage due to unforeseen natural calamities and adverse weather conditions. It seeks to stabilize farmers' incomes and ensure their continued participation in farming. Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to farmers under the scheme against unavoidable natural calamities such as drought, dry spells, floods, hailstorms, inundation, etc., covering the entire crop cycle from pre-sowing to post-harvest losses. As of 30th June 2025, during the period from 2020–21 to 2024–25, the total farmers’ share in premiums amounted to ₹18,175.0 crore. Claims paid stood at ₹86,755.8 crore, benefitting 14,63,73,629 farmer applications. In addition, the project "Dissemination of Pink Bollworm Management Strategies" has been implemented by ICAR-CICR, Nagpur since 2018–19 under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) (formerly NFSM). The objective of the project is to disseminate integrated Pink Bollworm management strategies during different growth stages of the cotton crop, to effectively combat Pink Bollworm infestation in cotton.

Additionally ICAR- Central Institute for Cotton Research (ICAR-CICR) has developed pheromone traps for reducing pest levels, where infested.

This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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RC/ KSR/AR

(Release ID: 2158031)