Climate change poses significant challenges for the agricultural sector, particularly in India, due to its large population, reliance on natural resources, and inadequate coping mechanisms. India has already experienced a temperature rise of 0.60°C in the past century, leading to negative impacts on crop yields and food security. To address this challenge, a scheme called Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) has been introduced. NICRA aims to enhance the adaptability of Indian agriculture to climate change by creating and applying advanced technologies for production and the management of risks. The scheme focuses on strategic research, technology demonstration, capacity building, and sponsored research. Strategic research involves collaboration with 21 institutes to establish research infrastructure and address thematic areas. Technology demonstration involves presenting proven technologies in villages to help adapt agricultural and animal husbandry systems to the challenges posed by climate variability. The scheme’s modules cover various aspects, including natural resource conservation, water management, crop production (drought-tolerant varieties, water-saving techniques), animal husbandry and fisheries management, and institutional interventions (seed and fodder banks, custom hiring centres, weather index-based insurance). Capacity-building initiatives train scientists in climate change research, while awareness programs target extension agents, policymakers, NGOs, and farmers. Expected outputs include the selection of climate-resilient crop genotypes and livestock breeds, demonstration of best practices in 100 vulnerable districts, strengthening of research infrastructure, and adequately trained scientific manpower. The ultimate goal of the scheme is to bolster the resilience of agricultural production in susceptible regions of India. The National Resource Management (NRM) Division of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) oversees the scheme’s implementation, with the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) serving as the Lead Institute. In conclusion, the NICRA scheme is a vital government initiative aimed at strengthening the robustness of agriculture in India in the face of climate change. By focusing on research, technology demonstration, capacity building, and sponsored research, the program aims to address the challenges presented by changing climate patterns and ensure the enduring productivity of agriculture in vulnerable regions.

India ranks among the world’s top cashew producers, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu serving as key contributors to the country's cashew production. Among the Plantation sector, specifically cashew cultivation plays a pivotal role in boosting farm economy in India. This particular study explores field constraints experienced by cashew growers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which significantly impacts cashew cultivation. The key objective is to compare field challenges experienced by cashew growers among major producers in southern regions of India. The methodology involves a purposive multi-stage sampling approach to select regions, with an equal proportion of 80 respondents from each state selected through simple random sampling. Totally, 160 cashew growers were investigated for data collection through pre-tested structured interview schedule. The data sets were analysed using SPSS software, with frequency and percentage analysis employed to rank the identified constraints. The significant findings were pest and disease infestations, labour scarcity, unstable market price, lack of technical know-how and inadequate processing facilities. Notably, 100 per cent of growers reported that, Cashew Stem and Root Borer (CSRB) infestation as a most critical issue in both states. This paper highlights, region-specific and timely technical interventions, commodity-specific assured markets, proper pricing system and infrastructure development. The study's interpretation highlights the need to address high-priority and specialized constraints through targeted policy reforms and technical support systems, aiming to enhance the productivity and sustainability of cashew farming in India. These findings also provide valuable insights that can be applied to other cashew-producing regions and contribute to shaping national agricultural policies.

The living soil system is fundamental to sustainable agriculture, with soil quality reflecting environmental stability and food security. However, soil health is declining due to unsustainable practices and climatic stresses such as drought and salinity. Soil microorganisms play a vital role in nutrient mobilization, solubilization, and improved nutrient availability. The rhizosphere, a dynamic root zone, fosters crucial microbe - plant interactions that enhance soil biodiversity, disease suppression, and physicochemical properties like *Rhizobium spp.*, *Azotobacter chroococcum* which enhances nitrogen fixation, *Bacillus megaterium*, *Pseudomonas fluorescens* converts insoluble phosphate to soluble phosphorus form etc. Beneficial microbes like plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) boost crop productivity and tolerance to abiotic stress. Microbial communities also enhance soil structure, water retention, and organic matter dynamics. As sensitive indicators of soil health, microbes are key to sustainable agriculture. Future research should focus on identifying efficient microbial strains and understanding their metabolites to improve plant-soil interactions and support sustainable food production.

Soil represents three phase system which acts as a medium for agriculture production. Notably, at present, there were abrupt climate change like increase in temperature, drastic shift in rainfall pattern, precipitation, relative humidity and many more were noticed which not only affect plant physiological function, but also for soil individual properties (physical, chemical and biological) which ultimately hinders crop growth and development leads to limited food production. Although increase in one degree Celsius was found to increase pest population incidence by 20-30% which reduces yield by 6%. Suitable management practices were crucial in augmenting climate change scenario. Many studies shall focused management practices for crop health due to physiological function neglecting soil management process. This review briefly emphasize the significance effect of changing climate towards various soil individual properties and the suitable mitigation strategies like system of farming practices, inter-cropping, crop diversification, cover crops, amending beneficial microbes, conservation tillage and other precision technologies were involved for better crop production and to sustain agro-ecological system under changing climate.

This study explored how COVID-19 affected farmers in Chikkaballapur District, Karnataka, India. Using an ex-post-facto research design, data were collected from 50 randomly selected farmers through a pretested structured interview schedule. The goal was to understand their perceptions of the pandemic's impact on farming, productivity, economy, markets, labour, and community well-being. Statistical methods like mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the relationships between various factors. The findings showed significant variability in farm size and income, indicating a wide range of differences among farmers. Notably, changes in economic factors were significantly related to farm size, while changes in production were significantly related to education. Health and sanitation were negatively correlated with changes in farm technology, suggesting that better infrastructure could influence the adoption of new technologies. Age and education significantly impacted changes in farm management, highlighting the importance of demographic factors in farming decisions. The study emphasized the complex effects of the pandemic on farming practices and highlighted the need for targeted interventions. Recommendations include financial support programs, improved market access, promotion of digital tools, and diversified cropping strategies to help farmers build resilience and sustainability. These measures aim to reduce the adverse effects of crises and improve the overall well-being of farming communities.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy is a vital government intervention to safeguard the income and livelihoods of small and marginal farmers, ensuring economic stability and food security. This paper examines the historical evolution of MSP in India, its operational mechanisms, and the significant impact on agricultural sustainability and farmer welfare. MSP guarantees a price floor for agricultural produce, encouraging crop diversification and mitigating risks such as market volatility, input costs, and climatic challenges. While the system has positively impacted agricultural production, particularly in rice and wheat surplus regions like Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, its effectiveness is inconsistent across regions. Kerala’s decentralized procurement system serves as a model for other states, emphasizing the importance of regional adjustments in policy implementation. Despite the benefits of MSP, various challenges, such as limited awareness among farmers, logistical bottlenecks, and market distortions caused by bonuses, limit its efficacy. This paper suggests reforms to enhance MSP's coverage and efficiency through better awareness, infrastructure investments, and policy restructuring to ensure that the benefits reach a wider segment of the farming community.