Question
Asked 29th Aug, 2023

How does climate change affect agricultural productivity in India and productivity challenges in agricultural sector in India?

How does climate change affect agricultural productivity in India and productivity challenges in agricultural sector in India?

Most recent answer

Rk Naresh
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology
Climate change is projected to reduce wheat yield by 19.3% in 2050 and 40% in 2080 scenarios towards the end of the century with significant spatial and temporal variations. Climate change is projected to reduce the kharif maize yields by 18 and 23% in 2050 and 2080 scenarios, respectively. Critical challenges that agriculture sector would face in the event of climate change are (i) water availability as result of changing rainfall patterns, alteration in stream flow and increase in crop water demand (ii) deterioration of water quality due to sea water intrusion, transport of salts from the deeper soil . Climate change is a serious threat to agriculture and food security. Extreme weather conditions and changing patterns of precipitation lead to a decrease in the crop productivity. High temperatures and uncertain rainfall decrease the grain yield of crops by reducing the length of growing period.The increasing pressure of population on land is an important demographic factor responsible for low yield in agriculture. In India, too many people depend on agriculture. Almost two third of our labor force depends on agriculture. Increasing pressure on land has leads to the fragmentation of land holdings. Reduced agricultural yield is due to factors like an increase in temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability. A decline in food production in recent years due to climate change could severely affect revenue from the agricultural sector. High temperatures, changing precipitation levels, and extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods, cyclones, etc. will reduce agricultural productivity. Unsustainable agricultural practices lead to soil erosion, eventually leading to a drastic loss in yields. Reduced grain and forage quality can reduce the ability of pasture and rangeland to support grazing livestock. More extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Extreme events, especially floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields. This climate change leads to higher temperatures and unanticipated rainfall across the country, resulting in reduced crop yields and overall food production. Due to the rise in temperature and changes in water availability, climate change can affect irrigated agricultural production throughout Agro-ecological zones.
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All Answers (8)

Курвантаев Рахмон
Почвоведения иагрохимии
Изменение климата не только влияет сельское хозяйство оно влияет во всем мире сельского хозяйство, особенно потепление температуры и ухудшение экологической ситуации, загрязнение различными отходами
Rk Naresh
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology
Dr Kypbahtaeb Paxmoh thank you for your contribution to the discussion
Desouza Blaise
ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research
Climate change and crop productivity - presently many studies use modeling to predict how crop productivity will be influenced by changing climate.
The effects of climate change will be felt in terms of
1. changes in rainfall affecting the hydrology and availability of moisture to the crop.
2. crops response would be varying, for instance warmer temperatures may decrease crop yields of cool season crops such as wheat; while some warm season crops may stand to benefit, for ex. millets
3. increase in temperature will lead to greater evaporative demand and consequently greater soil moisture stress
An interesting paper published by Datta et al. in Environmental Challenges will give you a picture of how Climate Change would alter the crop productivity. The link to this paper is given below:
The paper cites Guiteras (2009). Their study predicts yield deecline that is going to become manifold in a longer time frame.
Rk Naresh
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology
Dr Desouza Blaise thank you for your contribution to the discussion
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Rk Naresh
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology
Reduced grain and forage quality can reduce the ability of pasture and rangeland to support grazing livestock. More extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Extreme events, especially floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields. Reduced agricultural yield is due to factors like an increase in temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability. A decline in food production in recent years due to climate change could severely affect revenue from the agricultural sector. Some of the key challenges facing Indian agriculture today include: Small and fragmented landholdings: The average farm size in India is small, with around 85 percent of farms being less than 2 hectares in size, which can make it difficult for farmers to be profitable. Critical challenges that agriculture sector would face in the event of climate change are (i) water availability as result of changing rainfall patterns, alteration in stream flow and increase in crop water demand (ii) deterioration of water quality due to sea water intrusion, transport of salts from the deeper soil. Critical challenges that agriculture sector would face in the event of climate change are (i) water availability as result of changing rainfall patterns, alteration in stream flow and increase in crop water demand (ii) deterioration of water quality due to sea water intrusion, transport of salts from the deeper soil. Because of high pressure on land the productivity from land is very low. the vast rain fed areas, and the dry land which mainly grow coarse grain , pulses and oilseeds have very low yield. Though high yielding variety seeds have been introduced but only 16% of the area is covered under this. Climate Change affects the amount of rain in that region. It also changes the amount of sunlight and brings alteration in the temperature of the region. Where excess rain can destroy the crop, the lack of rain can bring drought. The unfavorable climate change can increase the number of insects also.Farmers fail to get suitable price for their produce. Inadequate means of transport forces the farmers to sell their produce to local money lenders at low prices. Due to lack of warehousing facilities, farmers can not able to store their produce when prices are low.
Murtadha Shukur
Technical Institute, Najaf
Climate change is already having a negative impact on agricultural productivity in India. The country is projected to experience more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, and floods, all of which can damage crops and reduce yields. In addition, rising temperatures can lead to changes in the timing and amount of rainfall, which can also disrupt crop growth.
The following are some of the ways in which climate change is affecting agricultural productivity in India:
  • Increased temperatures: Higher temperatures can reduce crop yields by shortening the growing season, making it difficult for crops to mature. They can also stress plants, making them more vulnerable to pests and diseases.
  • Changes in rainfall patterns: Changes in rainfall patterns can make it difficult for farmers to plan their crops and irrigation schedules. In some cases, droughts can lead to crop failures, while floods can damage crops and infrastructure.
  • Increased frequency of extreme weather events: Extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and floods can cause widespread damage to crops and agricultural infrastructure. This can lead to significant losses for farmers and disrupt food production.
In addition to the challenges posed by climate change, the agricultural sector in India also faces a number of other productivity challenges, including:
  • Inefficient irrigation: A large proportion of irrigation water in India is lost due to evaporation, seepage, and poor management. This can lead to water shortages and reduce crop yields.
  • Low use of fertilizers and pesticides: Many farmers in India do not use enough fertilizers and pesticides to protect their crops from pests and diseases. This can lead to lower yields and reduced crop quality.
  • Small landholdings: Many farmers in India have small landholdings, which makes it difficult for them to adopt modern agricultural practices and increase their productivity.
  • Lack of access to credit: Many farmers in India do not have access to credit, which makes it difficult for them to invest in their farms and improve their productivity.
The government of India is taking a number of steps to address the challenges posed by climate change and improve agricultural productivity. These include:
  • Investing in irrigation infrastructure to improve water efficiency
  • Promoting the use of drought-tolerant and heat-resistant crops
  • Providing farmers with weather information and early warning systems
  • Offering financial assistance to farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices
These measures are essential to help India adapt to climate change and ensure food security for its growing population.
In addition to the government's efforts, there are a number of things that individual farmers can do to improve agricultural productivity in India. These include:
  • Adopting water-efficient irrigation practices
  • Using crop rotation and cover crops to improve soil health
  • Planting drought-tolerant and heat-resistant crops
  • Using fertilizers and pesticides judiciously
  • Investing in crop insurance
By taking these steps, farmers can help to reduce the impact of climate change on their crops and improve their productivity.
Rk Naresh
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology
Dr Murtadha Shukur thank you for your contribution to the discussion
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Rk Naresh
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology
Climate change is projected to reduce wheat yield by 19.3% in 2050 and 40% in 2080 scenarios towards the end of the century with significant spatial and temporal variations. Climate change is projected to reduce the kharif maize yields by 18 and 23% in 2050 and 2080 scenarios, respectively. Critical challenges that agriculture sector would face in the event of climate change are (i) water availability as result of changing rainfall patterns, alteration in stream flow and increase in crop water demand (ii) deterioration of water quality due to sea water intrusion, transport of salts from the deeper soil . Climate change is a serious threat to agriculture and food security. Extreme weather conditions and changing patterns of precipitation lead to a decrease in the crop productivity. High temperatures and uncertain rainfall decrease the grain yield of crops by reducing the length of growing period.The increasing pressure of population on land is an important demographic factor responsible for low yield in agriculture. In India, too many people depend on agriculture. Almost two third of our labor force depends on agriculture. Increasing pressure on land has leads to the fragmentation of land holdings. Reduced agricultural yield is due to factors like an increase in temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability. A decline in food production in recent years due to climate change could severely affect revenue from the agricultural sector. High temperatures, changing precipitation levels, and extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods, cyclones, etc. will reduce agricultural productivity. Unsustainable agricultural practices lead to soil erosion, eventually leading to a drastic loss in yields. Reduced grain and forage quality can reduce the ability of pasture and rangeland to support grazing livestock. More extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Extreme events, especially floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields. This climate change leads to higher temperatures and unanticipated rainfall across the country, resulting in reduced crop yields and overall food production. Due to the rise in temperature and changes in water availability, climate change can affect irrigated agricultural production throughout Agro-ecological zones.
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  • Raveendra Nath YasarapuRaveendra Nath Yasarapu
Isn't the obvious solution and the elephant-in-the-room 'BETTER HUMAN BEINGS'? Shouldn't the focus be on better human beings rather than better technology? Why is it that everyone wants to develop better technology rather than focus on better humanity? Because no one has the answers and no one wants to change themselves? In environmental degradation, is it not obvious that nature can heal itself, if only left alone, and it is we humans who need regulation? Many natural parks managers do just that; seal off the area from human interference to let nature heal and recover. It is classified as 'Strict Nature Reserve"by IUCN. Complacency and inaction are not advocated here, as many have misunderstood, but the shifting of focus from technology to the human being. As technology is no match for human greed, isn't introspection & restraining ourselves more relevant than developing more technology, which caused the mess in the first place, by making it easy for a few to consume more? Since technology is only a short term quick fix which fails after a short time, isn't the real problem our addiction to material consumption & our lack of understanding about human nature? Isn't developing more technology sustaining the addiction instead of correcting it, leading to more complex problems later on, needing more complex technological quick fixes like higher drug dosages, more ground troops & equipment, (along with their debilitating side effects) in the future? Isn't this the vicious addiction circle we are trapped in? As researchers, do we merely buy more time with technology OR go to the very root of the problem, the human being?
A lot of hue and cry is made about climate change and the environment in general. Public and private money is poured into research to study its effects on the environment, sustainability etc. Should we study nature or ourselves?
" Our studies must begin with our selves and not with the heavens. "-Ouspensky
Human activities have been found to have a direct correlation to climate change and its impact on the environment(I=P x A x T, the Ehrlich and Holdren equation), in spite of what some complacent sections say to protect their own self interests.
We hardly know about Human nature. We can scarcely predict human behavior. We need to find out why we think like we do and why we do what we do and why, in spite of all knowledge and wisdom, consume more than what we need, in the form of addictions to consumption and imbalance not only ourselves but also the family, society and environment around us..
Humanity is directly responsible for all the unnatural imbalances occurring on the planet. Yet we refuse to take responsibility and instead focus on climate change, or fool the public exchequer with a 'breakthrough in renewable energy just around the corner'. We scarcely know what drives human beings. If we had known, all the imbalances around us would have had solutions by now, given the amount of money plowed into finding such solutions. Are we blindly groping in the dark of climate change because we don't know the answers to our own nature?
Is it not high time we focus on what makes us human, correct our consumptive behavior and leave nature to take care of climate change? Why focus effort on 'externals' when the problem is 'internal'- 'me'?
Aren't we addicts denying our addiction and blaming everything else but ourselves?
" We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts, we make the world." - Buddha 
IMHO, We don't need to save the World. It is enough if we save ourselves from ourselves. The need of the hour is not vain glorious interventions, but self-restraint and self-correction!
The Mind is the Final frontier.

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