Rethink farm policy for a changing climate

THE sudden spell of heavy rains in early October has once again exposed the fragility of India’s agrarian economy, particularly across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. What was meant to be a calm harvest period turned into a season of distress. Flattened paddy fields, rotting grain heaps and damaged apple orchards have left farmers anxious and state governments struggling to provide relief. These are not isolated events but symptoms of a changing climate that is steadily rewriting the rules of farming in north India.

Farmers, both in the plains and the hills, are increasingly at the mercy of erratic weather — delayed monsoons, sudden cloudbursts and untimely downpours. Traditional cropping calendars, once aligned with predictable rainfall cycles, now fail to match the new climate reality. Yet, adaptation on the ground remains painfully slow. The same water-guzzling crops dominate fields, encouraged by procurement policies that reward continuity rather than change. In the hills, deforestation and unplanned construction on fragile slopes magnify the damage even moderate rains can inflict.

Governments must go beyond the ritual of compensation and focus on resilience. Relief measures are necessary, but reactive firefighting cannot substitute for long-term planning. Climate-resilient and short-duration crop varieties, revised sowing schedules and real-time weather alerts must become the new normal. Strengthening crop insurance and ensuring timely disbursals are equally vital. The cycle of calamity followed by delayed relief has to end. Farmers need foresight, not just financial aid after disaster strikes. In Himachal’s orchards and Punjab’s plains, the warning is clear: the climate clock has shifted. Agricultural policy can no longer be built on assumptions of stability. It must be redesigned for a future of unpredictability. It must reflect a blend science, sustainability and state support to keep India’s food security intact.