Published Paper Details:

The agriculture sector is the mainstay of the Indian economy, employing approximately 54 percent of the country's workforce and contributing approximately 18 percent of GDP. However, productivity remains a challenge and poverty and malnutrition in rural areas remain high. Water scarcity, climate change and fragmented farms make it difficult for millions of small holder farmers to feed their families and profit from their work. Farmers in Maharashtra face problems like uneven distribution of rainfall, heavy rains, late arrival of monsoons, seasonal rains and hail for many years. As a result, severe drought or scarcity-like conditions cause widespread adverse effects on agricultural production and productivity and slow down agricultural development. Reduced income also increases the stress on farmers and some farmers even take extreme measures such as suicide. Overall, these significant changes in the recent climate have presented major challenges to the country's agricultural sector. Climate change is the result of adverse agricultural conditions that lead to reduced yields. Maharashtra government has proposed to implement a climate-friendly agriculture project POCRA (Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture) in the state with global financial support to ensure immediate recovery of farmers without stress due to their failed crops. Bank mainly in selected villages affected by drought in Vidarbha and Marathwada and selected villages across the saline area of the Vidarbha basin.