IMPACT ON FARMING
Pune to house centre for climate change study
Mumbai: A first-of-its-kind research centre in India to study climate change and its impact on agriculture production is likely to be set up in Pune shortly, officials in the agriculture ministry said.
The process of identifying land for the institute is on the fast track as the need for a scientific study on global warming has long been talked about by the Union agriculture ministry and the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) in view of drastic climate changes and falling crop yields.
“In recent times, hot days and heat waves have become frequent. The number of rainy days has decreased due to global warming. The productivity of cereals would decrease in the Indo-Gangetic plains due to rising temperatures and less availability of water. It will also have an adverse impact on microbes, pathogens and insects,’’ the official said.
He added that in future, farming will have to be done in a scientific manner and policy changes will
have to be initiated to enhance higher investments in irrigation with the larger focus on water conservation and low-cost technologies which will ensure efficient use of water. The proposed research institute will figure out the quantitative impact on different sectors, besides developing climate responsive crops and land use systems.
have to be initiated to enhance higher investments in irrigation with the larger focus on water conservation and low-cost technologies which will ensure efficient use of water. The proposed research institute will figure out the quantitative impact on different sectors, besides developing climate responsive crops and land use systems.
The official said Pune is an ideal location for the global warming study centre as other research bodies, including Central Water Commission and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, are also located in the same area and will allow proper coordination between scientists.
Unfavourable climatic conditions have already taken a toll on the agriculture sector in Maharashtra. Although 56% of the total geographical area of the state is under agriculture, crop productivity has not increased despite huge spending on water conservation and watershed development. Officials said the per hectare yield in the state was 924 kg per hectare, which is below the national average of 1,716 kg.