Climate Change And Its Impact On Agriculture
Climate change is a reality that continues to threaten the world's food supply. In India, weather variations have not only impacted crop production but also caused loss to crop area. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that in the first month of 2023, there were wide variations in rainfall volume in different parts of the country. As per the IMD report, India's 4% area has seen large excess and 2% observed excess rainfall. Not only this, but 24% of the country has also observed a large deficiency of rain.
Climate change causes weather variations and indirectly takes a toll on agricultural industries around the globe, with more frequent and intense droughts and floods, unpredictable seasons, and shorter growth cycles. It affects one of the most essential and fundamental elements of our society- agriculture. Read on to explore the impacts climate change has had and could have on farming systems across the world and how we can prepare for this new reality.
Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture
Climate change impacts agriculture from all corners. From extreme weather conditions to natural disasters like floods and drought, they all cause a major loss to agriculture every year in the country. Following are some of the major impacts of climate change on Agriculture:
Floods
The data on floods damaging crops in India is very disturbing. Flooding can damage crops, including through physical damage to the plants themselves or through damage to irrigation systems and other infrastructure. Not only this, but it can impact soil fertility as floodwaters can carry away the topsoil. Disruption of transportation and markets is also a major issue caused by floods.
Drought
When drought sets in, crop production can suffer, livestock may be forced to graze on land with less vegetation, and water for irrigation becomes scarce. The resulting financial stress can lead to farm bankruptcies and loss of jobs. As per IJIRSET (International Journal of Innovative Research in Science Engineering and Technology), The Irrigation Commission of India has identified Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, North Karnataka & Maharashtra as drought-prone states. The report also stated that the failure of monsoons is a major reason for drought in India.
Crop Diseases
Climate change is one of the primary drivers of crop diseases. As temperatures rise and weather patterns become more extreme, crops are increasingly susceptible to pests and diseases. Crop diseases like wheat rust, insect pests, armyworms, airborne fungi, and waterborne diseases are harmful to crops.
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Heat Waves
Blistering heat waves are becoming more common and intense in India, wreaking havoc on crops and leaving farmers struggling to cope. Heat waves can occur when a region experiences abnormally high temperatures for an extended period of time, typically three or more days. Crop damage from heat waves is likely to become a greater problem in the future, putting even more strain on Indian farmers.
Strategies for Mitigating the Impact
Climate change is already causing problems for farmers and is expected to become more severe in the coming years. Higher temperatures and changes in precipitation will lead to more extreme weather conditions, which can damage crops, deplete water supplies, and increase the spread of pests and diseases. Sustainable agriculture is the major solution to most of the problems that climate change is causing. Following are some strategies that farmers can use:
Diversification
Growing a mix of crops helps to reduce the risk of crop failure due to extreme weather conditions.
Resource conservation
Conserving the resources like soil and water is the major challenge. Farmers should use technologies that reduce the consumption of resources without any impact on crop production.
Soil management
Maintaining healthy soil helps crops to withstand extremes of temperature and rainfall better.
Pest management
Identifying and controlling pests and diseases before they cause serious damage is essential for protecting crops against climate-related threats.
Conclusion
For years we have been hearing the warnings that climate change is causing major risks to our planet. But many people need to realize how drastically this can affect our food sources and agricultural practices. Farmers have to adopt sustainability in agriculture to ensure there is no risk of food security, resource scarcity, and crop loss in the future.
