Climate change impact harsher on poorer farmers in India: FAO report

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Last Updated18/10/2024

Poor households globally lose 5% of their total income in an average year due to heat stress and 4.4% due to floods compared with households that are relatively better off, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Climate change continues to pose a significant threat to poor households, particularly in rural areas, exacerbating their vulnerability to economic losses. According to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled "The Unjust Climate: Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Poor, Women, and Youth", poor households worldwide lose 5% of their income due to heat stress and 4.4% due to floods annually.

The FAO report emphasizes the disproportionate impact of climate change on poor rural households. Globally, these households lose a significant portion of their income—5% due to heat stress and 4.4% due to floods—compared to better-off households. These losses are primarily driven by the reliance of poorer households on climate-sensitive agricultural activities.
In India, the situation is even more critical, as on-farm income sources are highly affected by climate stressors like droughts, floods, and heatwaves. Senior FAO economist Nicholas Sitko, while presenting the report in New Delhi, pointed out that poor households often dedicate more time and resources to sustain agricultural production during climate extremes, further straining their limited resources.

The vulnerability of poor households is linked to structural inequalities, which make them more susceptible to economic setbacks caused by climate change. These inequalities include limited access to resources, inadequate infrastructure, and reduced opportunities for off-farm employment.

To mitigate the impacts of climate change, the FAO report suggests expanding social security nets and scaling up anticipatory social protection programmes. These measures could help households prepare for extreme weather events, reducing their reliance on adverse coping strategies like selling assets or reducing food intake. Additionally, the report stresses the importance of workforce diversification and the promotion of off-farm employment opportunities to build resilience among rural populations.

The report highlights the importance of addressing gendered barriers in non-farm employment. Women, especially in rural areas, face entrenched discriminatory norms that prevent them from fully participating in the modern workforce. Gender-transformative methodologies can be effective in challenging these barriers and enabling women to make autonomous economic decisions.

India has made strides in increasing women’s participation in the workforce, as noted by Ramesh Chand, a member of NITI Aayog. He pointed out the positive trends in recent Periodic Labour Force Surveys and emphasized that the government has been proactive in implementing measures to tackle climate change and ensure social safety.

The FAO report also touches on the broader issue of food security, warning that climate change could reduce India’s foodgrains production by up to 47% by 2080, as noted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This highlights the urgent need for climate-smart agricultural practices to protect the livelihoods of farmers and ensure food security.

India has already taken significant steps to address climate-related challenges. The National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project, launched by the government, has helped farmers adapt to severe climatic conditions. India was also one of the first countries to implement a contingency plan for all agricultural districts, as well as an employment guarantee scheme as a social safety net, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.