Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
per fluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfurhexafluoride (SF
6
), increased by 70
percent. In its fourth assessment report since 1990, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that climate change is already
happening and can be primarily attributed to human activity.
19.2.1 IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON INDIAN DIVERSE
AGRO ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM
Indian agro ecological system is drastically changing due to climate
change. The impact of climate change is observed in the Semi arid regions
like Gujarat plains, Malwa, Chhotonagpur plateau and Deccan plateau.
Due to rise in atmospheric temperature, semiarid regions of western India
are expected to receive higher rainfall, while central regions are likely to
experience 10 to 20% decrease in winter rainfall by 2050. In North India,
the average mean surface temperature is expected to rise between 3.5°C
and 5°C by the end of this century. The unusual flood occurred in Barmer
and other parts of western Rajasthan have already formed three large lakes
covering about 7 to 8 square km in Kawas, Malwa, and Uttarlai, all in the
Barmer district of Rajasthan. This is destructive to the agro ecosystem of
the region and adversely affected livelihood of the populace. In Orissa,
seawater incursion has reached 2.5 kilometers inland over the previous
two decades. Drought prone districts such as Balangir, Kalahandi, Kora-
put, Bargarh and Jharsuguda have experienced frequent floods in the prior
two decades. The negative effects are already visible in the Sunderbans,
the wetlands at the mouth of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems.
The Sunderbans wetlands harbor one of the most globally important wild-
life habitats, the largest mangrove forest. The Sunderbans wetlands have
long been highly susceptible to seasonal ocean currents, tides, waves,
winds, and cyclonic storm surges that cause rapid soil erosion on the one
hand and salt deposition on the other.
19.2.2 IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE
Agriculture production system is affected due to changes in the weather
parameters. Changing climatic parameters like temperature, moisture con-
centrations (rainfall and relative humidity) and CO
2
levels is likely to have
