Kerala has launched a new plan to tackle climate change in agriculture. On July 16, 2025, the state released the Climate-Resilient and Energy-Efficient Agriculture (CREEA) report. Developed with inputs from experts and district workshops, it seeks to protect Kerala’s ₹560 billion (₹56,000 crore) farm economy from extreme weather.
The state’s agriculture minister, P. Prasad, unveiled the report at a farmer-scientist consultation. “CREEA is more than a study; it is a blueprint for an inclusive, low‑carbon farm economy that keeps smallholders at the centre of climate action,” Minister Prasad said.
The 240-page report presents five main strategies: Integration and Convergence Planning, Risk and Emergency Planning, Climate-Resilient Farming Systems, Net-Zero Agriculture and Energy Efficiency, and Capacity Building. It outlines steps to reduce the carbon footprint of farming and improve resilience to climate change.
A key part of the plan is K-CRAIL (Kerala Climate-Resilient Agriculture Innovation Labs). These labs will be established at the panchayat, block, and district levels to evaluate sustainable farming practices, including bio-inputs, micro-irrigation, and resilient crops. The first labs are expected to be launched in Alappuzha, Palakkad, and Wayanad by early 2026.
The report also suggests creating farmer seed and bioresource networks. These initiatives will help protect indigenous crops and establish community seed banks, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Another proposal is an AI-powered risk-mapping platform that helps farmers make informed decisions based on real-time weather, crop, and market data.
Kerala’s agriculture faces growing energy costs, with farm power use doubling over the past decade. CREEA suggests reducing on-farm energy demand by 40% through the use of solar-powered pumps, biogas units, and precision irrigation.
The state’s agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change. The report highlights that 94% of Kerala’s cropped land is at risk. CREEA’s recommendations align with Kerala’s 2050 net-zero goals and India’s 2070 net-zero pledge. It also points to the Aluva State Seed Farm, which has become India’s first carbon-neutral farm, as a model for others to follow.
S. Usha, an agricultural scientist and lead author of the report, said, “By reducing production costs, improving soil health, and promoting biodiversity, CREEA will fortify rural livelihoods against price and climate shocks.”
The Kerala government plans to set up a CREEA Steering Task Force to oversee the implementation of the plan. The state will also create an investment prospectus to attract both public and private funding for low-carbon farming solutions.
Banner image: Ajith Babu, drone pilot at Fuselage Innovations, operates ‘FIA QD10’ – a precision spraying agricultural drone at a paddy farm at Kerala Agro Machinery Corporation Limited in Kochi, Kerala, India. Photo by Narayana Swamy Subbaraman/Mongabay.
