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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
World Environment Day: India needs to mitigate the climate change threat to agriculture
Written by Renuka Chowdhury On World Environment Day, it is crucial to emphasise the relationship between agriculture in India, food security, and the increasing risks posed by climate change. Agriculture in India is becoming more susceptible to climate change, with variable and extreme weather patterns impacting crop yields and affecting the livelihoods of many farmers. The climate-induced stress has compounded existing agrarian distress, particularly for small and marginal farmers, and those with limited resources to adapt in tribal and aspirational districts, like Khammam in Telangana. While the government has initiated reforms and structured policies to build climate resilience in the agriculture sector, these mostly remain scattered and are implemented without a mission-mode approach. With climate change among the biggest threats to the agriculture sector, we need a comprehensive, well-funded national initiative that integrates adaptation and mitigation into agricultural planning. The Climate Transparency Report 2021 warns that with a temperature increase of 1–4°C, rice production could decline by 10–30 per cent and maize production by 25–70 per cent. This would directly affect food security. The government's own projection highlights that in the absence of adaptation measures, paddy and wheat yields may drop by 20 per cent, and maize by 18 per cent by 2050. As many as 310 districts have been identified as vulnerable to climate change. Khammam, a predominantly tribal district, is one such hotspot. While the projections may be for 2050, the telling tales of impending disaster are already before us. Each year, Khammam faces unseasonal heavy hailstorms in March and April, leading to heavy crop losses. Chilli production in the state has declined by over 100,000 tonnes in just one year, with major chilli-growing districts like Khammam witnessing major yield drops. Khammam is not alone. This trend extends across India. In Jammu and Kashmir, saffron production has plummeted by 67.5 per cent between 2010–11 and 2023–24. The Assam and Darjeeling tea industries are grappling with reduced productivity and shifts in quality. Data suggest that 80 per cent of Indian farmers have suffered crop losses due to adverse climatic events between 2019 and 2024. There is enough evidence to say that we need a new strategy to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture. I suggest three ways to go about this. First, we need wider adoption of the 2,900 climate-adaptive crop varieties developed by the National Agricultural Research System. The Union government must proactively facilitate the accessibility, availability and affordability of these climate-resilient seeds across all 310 climate-vulnerable districts, tailored to local agro-climatic conditions and cropping patterns. This should include direct support mechanisms such as seed subsidies, targeted extension services, and timely distribution through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and agricultural cooperatives. Local governance institutions like panchayats must be mobilised to lead mass awareness campaigns on climate-smart agricultural practices. Strategic collaborations between agricultural universities, NGOs, and local extension agents can amplify outreach. Second, the much-touted Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) must evolve to explicitly integrate climate change considerations into its risk coverage framework. While the scheme currently covers weather-related crop loss, it does not adequately account for productivity losses stemming from long-term and extreme climate variability. As an MP, I had raised this question in Parliament, calling for a forward-looking insurance model that reflects the complex risks farmers face today. The idea has gained global prominence now. Recently, even the European Commission, while highlighting the huge agricultural loss of €28.3 billion annually due to climate change, has advocated for climate-related risk insurance coverage for farmers. India must take the lead in pioneering climate-responsive agricultural insurance models by incorporating climate risk modelling, developing region-specific climate indices, and piloting parametric insurance instruments that disburse compensation based on clearly defined weather thresholds. Data suggest that only 20 per cent of farmers receive timely financial support under the PMFBY, and there are structural deficiencies like delayed claim settlements, difficulties in assessing crop damage, high cost of premium, and verifying yield data. I have personally witnessed such failures in Khammam, where hundreds of small and marginal farmers narrated stories of repeated delays, unresponsive insurance agents, and rejected claims despite evident crop loss. Third, the need of the hour is to embrace innovative and adaptive approaches to climate action in agriculture. One such approach that merits serious policy deliberation is the introduction of Index-Based Cash Transfers (IBCTs), particularly in climate-vulnerable districts. A successful example is the Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE) in Africa, which implemented a mobile-enabled, input-linked index insurance programme. In this model, smallholder farmers receive climate-triggered payouts via mobile money, demonstrating the effectiveness of using localised weather data and public–private partnerships to build farmer resilience. Each crop and region presents unique challenges, requiring data-backed, locally contextualised solutions. Evidence-based decision-making must reflect the realities of each agro-climatic zone. The paths we chart today will not only safeguard the interests of our producers and consumers, but will also go miles in delivering climate justice to our farmers. The writer is a Rajya Sabha MP from the Indian National Congress and former Union Cabinet Minister
Los Angeles Times
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
In India, lawmakers protest alleged mistreatment of Indian deportees by U.S.
NEW DELHI — A protest disrupted India's Parliament on Thursday as opposition lawmakers condemned the alleged mistreatment of Indian immigrants deported by the United States. A U.S. military plane carrying 104 deported Indian migrants arrived Wednesday in a northern Indian city, the first such flight to the country as part of a crackdown ordered by the Trump administration. The lawmakers and media reports said the deportees' arms and legs were shackled on the aircraft. Parliament's proceedings were adjourned Thursday as the lawmakers chanted slogans and demanded a discussion about the deportation. Renuka Chowdhury, a lawmaker in the Congress party, said the deportees were 'handcuffed, had their legs chained and even struggled to use the washroom.' Her colleague, Gaurav Gogoi, called it 'degrading.' Parliament Speaker Om Birla tried to calm the lawmakers, saying the transportation of the deportees was a matter of U.S. foreign policy and that the U.S. 'also has its own rules and regulations.' One deportee, Jaspal Singh, said the handcuffs and leg chains were taken off only at the Amritsar airport in India. Singh, 36, said deportees initially thought they were being taken to another camp in the U.S and only found out about their deportation when they were on the plane. 'The flight was into 8-9 hours and an officer informed [us] that we are being deported' to India, he said. The U.S. government usually carries out deportations on commercial and chartered flights. The use of the U.S. military to return people to their home country started under the Trump administration. Opposition lawmakers, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, also protested outside the Parliament as they demanded a response from the government. Some wore handcuffs and carried placards that read: 'Humans, not prisoners.' 'Indians deserve Dignity and Humanity, NOT Handcuffs,' Gandhi wrote on the social media platform X. He uploaded a video showing another deportee, Harvinder Singh, as saying they were handcuffed and their feet chained for 40 hours. 'We were not allowed to move an inch from our seats. It was worse than hell,' he said. Later Thursday, India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told the Parliament's upper house that U.S. regulations allow for the use of restraints since 2012, both on military and civilian flights. He said the U.S. authorities have informed them that women and children are not restrained. 'There has been no change, I repeat, no change, from past procedure for the flight undertaken by the U.S.' on Wednesday, he said. Jaishankar said while the government was engaging the U.S. authorities to 'ensure that the returning deportees are not mistreated,' India's focus should be on the crackdown on the illegal migration. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit Washington next week. President Trump and Modi discussed immigration in a phone call last week and Trump stressed the importance of India buying more American-made security equipment and fair bilateral trade. A spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said enforcing immigration laws was critical for the country's national security and public safety. 'It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens,' Christopher Elms said. New Delhi says it opposes illegal immigration, mainly because it is linked to several forms of organized crime, and it has not objected to the U.S. deporting its citizens. Recent years have seen a jump in the number of Indians attempting to enter the U.S. along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. Media reports indicate that Indians living in the U.S. without papers are mainly from Punjab and Gujarat states. Indians accounted for about 3% of all illegal border crossings in the U.S. in 2024. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week the deportation flights were an effective way to stem the flow of illegal migration, which he said is destructive and destabilizing. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, told Parliament that 15,668 Indian nationals have been deported back to India from the U.S. since 2009. A Pew Research Center report said that as of 2022, India ranked third — after Mexico and El Salvador — on the list of countries with the largest number of unauthorized immigrants — 725,000 — living in the U.S. Hussain and Ngashangva write for the Associated Press. Hussain reported from Srinagar, India.
Al Arabiya
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Opposition lawmakers protest alleged mistreatment of Indian deportees by US
India's Parliament was disrupted on Thursday as opposition lawmakers protested the alleged mistreatment of 104 Indian immigrants deported by the US. A US military plane on Wednesday carrying 104 deported Indian immigrants arrived in a northern Indian city – the first such flight to the country as part of a crackdown ordered by the Trump administration. The lawmakers and media reports said the deportees' arms and legs were shackled while on the aircraft. Parliament's proceedings were adjourned Thursday as the lawmakers chanted slogans and called to discuss the deportation. Renuka Chowdhury, a lawmaker in the Congress party, said the deportees 'were handcuffed, had their legs chained, and even struggled to use the washroom.' Her colleague Gaurav Gogoi called it 'degrading.' Parliament speaker Om Birla tried to calm the lawmakers, saying the transportation of the deportees was a matter of US foreign policy. 'The foreign country also has its own rules and regulations,' he said. The Press Trust of India news agency quoted one of the deportees, Jaspal Singh, saying deportees' handcuffs and leg chains were taken off only at the Amritsar airport in India. Singh, 36, said, 'We initially thought we were being taken to another camp in the US. Then a police officer told us that we were being taken to India.' The US government usually carries out deportations on commercial and chartered flights. The use of the US military to return people to their home country is a relatively new method that started under the Trump administration. Opposition lawmakers, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, also protested outside the Parliament building as they demanded a response from the government. Some wore handcuffs and carried placards that read: 'Humans not prisoners.' The deportation came ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, which is expected next week. US President Donald Trump and Modi discussed immigration in a phone call last week, and Trump stressed the importance of India buying more American-made security equipment and fair bilateral trade. A spokesman at the US Embassy in New Delhi said enforcing immigration laws was critical for the country's national security and public safety. 'It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens,' he said. India has cooperated with the US and said it is ready to accept the deported Indians after verification. New Delhi says it is against illegal immigration mainly because it is linked to several forms of organized crime, and it has not objected to the US deporting its citizens. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week the deportation flights were an effective way to stem the flow of illegal migration, which he said is 'destructive and destabilizing.' The State Department said such deportations deter other people considering migrating illegally. India's junior External Affairs Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh recently told India's Parliament that 519 Indian nationals were deported to India between November 2023 and October 2024, citing US government data. A Pew Research Center report said that as of 2022, India ranked third – after Mexico and El Salvador – on the list of countries with the largest number of unauthorized immigrants – 725,000 – living in the US.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opposition lawmakers protest alleged mistreatment of Indian deportees by US
NEW DELHI (AP) — India's Parliament was disrupted on Thursday as opposition lawmakers protested the alleged mistreatment of 104 Indian immigrants deported by the United States. A U.S. military plane on Wednesday carrying 104 deported Indian migrants arrived in a northern Indian city, the first such flight to the country as part of a crackdown ordered by the Trump administration. The lawmakers and media reports said the deportees' arms and legs were shackled while on the aircraft. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Parliament's proceedings were adjourned Thursday as the lawmakers chanted slogans and called to discuss the deportation. Renuka Chowdhury, a lawmaker in the Congress party, said the deportees were 'handcuffed, had their legs chained and even struggled to use the washroom.' Her colleague, Gaurav Gogoi, called it 'degrading.' Parliament speaker Om Birla tried to calm the lawmakers, saying the transportation of the deportees was a matter of U.S. foreign policy. 'The foreign country also has its own rules and regulations,' he said. The Press Trust of India news agency quoted one of the deportees, Jaspal Singh, saying deportees' handcuffs and leg chains were taken off only at the Amritsar airport in India. Singh, 36, said they initially thought they were being taken to another camp in the U.S. 'Then a police officer told us that we were being taken to India,' he said. The U.S. government usually carries out deportations on commercial and chartered flights. The use of the U.S. military to return people to their home country is a relatively new method that started under the Trump administration. Opposition lawmakers, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, also protested outside the Parliament building as they demanded a response from the government. Some wore handcuffs and carried placards that read: 'Humans, not prisoners.' The deportation came ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, which is expected next week. U.S. President Donald Trump and Modi discussed immigration in a phone call last week and Trump stressed the importance of India buying more American-made security equipment and fair bilateral trade. A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said enforcing immigration laws was critical for the country's national security and public safety. "It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens,' he said. India has cooperated with the U.S. and said it is ready to accept the deported Indians after verification. New Delhi says it is against illegal immigration, mainly because it is linked to several forms of organized crime, and it has not objected to the U.S. deporting its citizens. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week the deportation flights were an effective way to stem the flow of illegal migration, which he said is destructive and destabilizing. The State Department said such deportations deter other people considering migrating illegally. India's junior External Affairs Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh recently told India's Parliament that 519 Indian nationals were deported to India between November 2023 and October 2024, citing U.S. government data. A Pew Research Center report said that as of 2022, India ranked third — after Mexico and El Salvador — on the list of countries with the largest number of unauthorized immigrants — 725,000 — living in the U.S.
The Hill
06-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Opposition lawmakers protest alleged mistreatment of Indian deportees by US
NEW DELHI (AP) — India's Parliament was disrupted on Thursday as opposition lawmakers protested the alleged mistreatment of 104 Indian immigrants deported by the United States. A U.S. military plane on Wednesday carrying 104 deported Indian migrants arrived in a northern Indian city, the first such flight to the country as part of a crackdown ordered by the Trump administration. The lawmakers and media reports said the deportees' arms and legs were shackled while on the aircraft. Parliament's proceedings were adjourned Thursday as the lawmakers chanted slogans and called to discuss the deportation. Renuka Chowdhury, a lawmaker in the Congress party, said the deportees were 'handcuffed, had their legs chained and even struggled to use the washroom.' Her colleague, Gaurav Gogoi, called it 'degrading.' Parliament speaker Om Birla tried to calm the lawmakers, saying the transportation of the deportees was a matter of U.S. foreign policy. 'The foreign country also has its own rules and regulations,' he said. The Press Trust of India news agency quoted one of the deportees, Jaspal Singh, saying deportees' handcuffs and leg chains were taken off only at the Amritsar airport in India. Singh, 36, said they initially thought they were being taken to another camp in the U.S. 'Then a police officer told us that we were being taken to India,' he said. The U.S. government usually carries out deportations on commercial and chartered flights. The use of the U.S. military to return people to their home country is a relatively new method that started under the Trump administration. Opposition lawmakers, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, also protested outside the Parliament building as they demanded a response from the government. Some wore handcuffs and carried placards that read: 'Humans, not prisoners.' The deportation came ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, which is expected next week. U.S. President Donald Trump and Modi discussed immigration in a phone call last week and Trump stressed the importance of India buying more American-made security equipment and fair bilateral trade. A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said enforcing immigration laws was critical for the country's national security and public safety. 'It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens,' he said. India has cooperated with the U.S. and said it is ready to accept the deported Indians after verification. New Delhi says it is against illegal immigration, mainly because it is linked to several forms of organized crime, and it has not objected to the U.S. deporting its citizens. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week the deportation flights were an effective way to stem the flow of illegal migration, which he said is destructive and destabilizing. The State Department said such deportations deter other people considering migrating illegally. India's junior External Affairs Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh recently told India's Parliament that 519 Indian nationals were deported to India between November 2023 and October 2024, citing U.S. government data. A Pew Research Center report said that as of 2022, India ranked third — after Mexico and El Salvador — on the list of countries with the largest number of unauthorized immigrants — 725,000 — living in the U.S.
