Chapter 6: Major findings from IPCC
An article in “Climate News Network” has analysed the growing concerns on the impact of Climate Change on the India’s agriculture, and on millions of families dependent on it. It refers to a study by Oxford University academic, Professor Barbara Harriss-White, of the Oxford Department of International Development. Over the last 30 years India has nearly doubled its rice production, mainly through the introduction of new, high-yielding varieties. While 95% of production is consumed domestically, India recently supplanted Thailand as the world’s biggest rice exporter. But the increase in rice output has led to a massive over-exploitation of water resources, with millions of farmers using electric pumps to harness well waters for their rice fields. The Oxford team has found out that there are GHG emissions in each phase of rice production and its marketing: for example when fields are cultivated and flooded large amounts of soil methane are released. Bullocks also produce a lot of methane. But it’s the coal needed to produce the energy to lift the water that’s the biggest problem. Over-exploitation of water resources has not only led to more GHG emissions but could result in future rice shortages. “Many farmers are forced to drill bore holes right down to fossil layers for water – and those waters won’t be replenished.” Changes in climate are also likely to have an adverse impact on India’s rice production.“Rice is vulnerable to climate change,” says Harriss-White. “A rise in temperature means more pests – and a greater likelihood of periods both of flooding and drought. Rice production must adapt to climate change. Most farmers we talk to don’t talk in terms of climate change – instead they talk of the monsoons becoming less reliable.” It is not difficult to imagine the impact of Climate Change on all other agricultural activities, including horticulture, floriculture, and dairying in Karnataka also. 6.2.3 Major impacts projected on agriculture due to Climate Change Food production will be under threat due to unreliable weather patterns Pest attacks will increase significantly and new pests will evolve Crop yield will reduce – every 1 degree rise will reduce wheat production by 4-5 million tons most cereal crops production will go down due to less water availability quality of produce will decline o Heat stress will reduce milk production by 10-25% o Fisheries will suffer – while crops can adapt to climate changes animals and fishes cannot. 6.2.4 Impact on farmers For no fault of theirs, Indian farmers, like the most marginalized everywhere, are paying a high price for man-made climate change. The worst-hit, as usual again, are small holders in marginalized locations with social disadvantages to begin with. They have the least resources to deal with the natural disasters like droughts and floods that are increasing with climate change. Reduced productivity and climate impacts will have impacts on farmers’ incomes, and will result in increased farm expenditures. The Green Revolution model dominant in India is considered by many to be the main contributor to climate change phenomenon through the agriculture. Current mainstream green-revolution practices of Indian agriculture are also considered as the cause of 30% of climate change. CO2, N20 and Methane are three of the main Green House Gases emitted from Agriculture. The mono-cropping intensive model focused on cash crops and grains only and dependent on heavy usage of chemicals is directly contributing to emissions of green house gases. In India, it is estimated that 28% of the GHG emissions are from agriculture. Monoculture model leads to loss of agricultural biodiversity. Also more intensive models use more fossil fuels for machinery liketractors, harvesters, pumps for irrigation Karnataka State Pollution Control Board | Recommendations to State Action Plan on Climate Change
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