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COPENHAGEN TO CANCUN
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TALK
CLIMATE, Part
II: (1)
Rajesh Kumar Edacheri,
September 16, 2010
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The series of interactions associated to
the Climate Change are in active progress. The next meeting of the panel of
experts mandated by United Nations is in Addis Ababa on October12, 2010.
This is expected to discuss aspects related to the range of funding options,
including carbon taxes and levies on airline targets. This would be
succeeded by the meeting in Cancun, Peru during December, 2010. Experts
expect that this summit will deliver good progress on finance, technology
transfer, preventing deforestation and encouraging skills-building in poor
countries. It will also look for private sector participation in funding to
fight global warming.
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In association with the World Ozone Day of 16th September,
2010, Calicutnet initiates an appraisal series on TALK
CLIMATE.
Agriculture is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. Our
farm production is a vagary of monsoons. Either flood or drought
disrupts food production.
Local knowledge with innovative sustainable methods is need of the hour.
As the first write up in this segment on CLIMATE CHANGE, we present the
views of International Scientist, Teacher and Scholar Dr. G.S.L.H.V.
Prasada Rao; Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural
Meteorology, Kerala Agricultural University.
Dr. Rao’s book on Agricultural Meteorology (2003) is
widely accepted as a course book, even in international curricula. He
has hundreds of research
publications including popular articles and several books to his
credit.
He has also edited a related compilation entitled Climate Change
and Agriculture in India (2008) associated with the
International Symposium on Agricultural Meteorology and Food Security.
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According to him, there is no success mantra to protect our environment
other than a dedicated mind.
When
asked on the effect of Climate change in Indian agriculture, especially food
grain production, Dr.Rao said “The food grains production in India largely
depends on July rainfall indirectly as the area under crop sown is likely
to be less. It is more so in the case of paddy as seen in monsoon 2009 and
2002, as well in 1987. The prolonged dry spell in monsoon season leads to
drought and food grains production is adversely affected in kharif. The
percentage decline is likely to be between 10 and 20 per cent.
The
occurrence of cold waves and heat waves during Rabi across north Indian
States adversely affect wheat production to a large extent. That is one of
the reasons why wheat and rice production are in threat due to climate
variability as the climate change may lead to increase in frequency of
floods, droughts, cold and heat waves.”
In
response to the query on the probable risk factors on crops, Dr.Rao said
that sea level rise may lead to decline in water quality and available
water. “The area of thermo-sensitive crops is likely to decline. Crop
production is likely to decline according to crop simulation models at 20
C increase and 425 ppm CO2. These impacts need to be understood further.”
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| TALK CLIMATE (series on
climate change) PART I |
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1.
Last talk
Climate, November 22, 2009
2.
Global Warming - an Interview with Cleo Paskal, December 5, 2009
3.
Copenhagen - A progress report, December 18, 2009
4.
Democratic
vision for natural sustainability - an interview with Alexander Likhotal,
January 10, 2010 |
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Recent Articles by Author:
Desert
Flowers -
July 21, 2010
Please write your comment on the subject / presentation at our Binsar.com Blog
forum
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By Rajesh
Kumar, Edacheri for CalicutNet.com |
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