Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
directly or indirectly affecting them. For instance exposure to drought and
excessive humidity or heat renders cattle more vulnerable to infections.
Also, alternating drought and heavy rainfall cycles provide a good envi-
ronment for midge and mosquito vectors that are linked with outbreaks of
vector-borne livestock diseases. Poultry is similarly affected by excessive
heat or rainfall.
19.3 IMPACT AND VULNERABILITY OF INDIAN AGRICULTURE
TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Indian agriculture today is faced with the challenge of having to adapt
to the projected vagaries of climate change. It must develop mechanisms
to reduce its vulnerability. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) has already begun research to assess the likely impact of climate
change on various crops, fisheries, and livestock under NICRA (
National
Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture
). A sector wise analysis is given
below.
19.3.1 CEREAL CROPS
The Asia-Pacific region is likely to face the worst impacts on cereal crop
yields. Loss in yields of wheat, rice and maize are estimated in the vicinity
of 50%, 17%, and 6% respectively by 2050. This yield loss will threaten
the food security of at least 1.6 billion people in South Asia. The projected
rise in temperature of 0.5°C to 1.2°C will be the major cause of grain yield
reduction in most areas of South Asia.
19.3.1.1 WHEAT
India is considered to be the second largest producer of wheat and the
national productivity of wheat is about 2708 kg/ha. The Northern Indian
states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Himachal
Pradesh are some of the major wheat producing states. Here the impact
of climate change would be profound, and only a 1°C rise in tempera-
ture could reduce wheat yield in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. In
Haryana, night temperatures during February and March in 2003-2004
