Water, Food And Agriculture

Water, Food And AgricultureWater plays a resilient role in life. Without piss, existence of life is not possible. Without piddle, agriculture is not possible. Without agriculture, we cannot meet the ever ascent demand for intellectual nourishment.Climate change, as we all know is disastrously masking our environment and the ecological balance. Glaciers, tripe bergs and the north and south poles are melting at a rate high than ever. This is greatly changing the water oscillation. Climate change thus severely affects the water levels.Climate change exit suck up a momentous effect on agriculture in terms of water quality and quantity. This go out be aggravated by the increasing demand for provender as populations and incomes increase.For centuries together, farmers suck in locally nonionised the water cycle through irrigation and drainage. The change in the hydrological cycle give influence the verdant practices.The plain population of the starting countries, for whom agriculture is the primary source of income and employment, will be unnatural due to agricultures picture to the changing modality.In this report, we shall discuss about the effect of mode change on water resources and agricultural practices which in turn affects the nourishment supply.GLOBAL PERSPECTIVEClimate change has a huge clashing on the world as a whole. The impact of climate change on the farmers is perhaps something which or so passel have not given a thought about. On the contrary, this seems to be one(a) of the nearly important problems facial gestured due to climate change. Climate change has a major impact on the availability of water and withstand formula. This triggers a chain of events. As water availability and last approach pattern changes, farmers have the only option of changing their agricultural patterns to adapt to the surroundings. They often turn to chemicals such as fertilizers to increase their yield. Some even quit farming and turn to oth er professions. This is usually prevalent among farmers who have a low income as they do not have enough money to buy these chemicals and the insane weather conditions patronagely lead to crop failures. This leads to a drastic decline in amount of food produced and thus leads to food scarcity. Food scarcity leads to a heave in food prices and thus unequalized distribution of food among the globe as a whole.According to a report published by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 11 June 2011, the world will face a water scarcity for agriculture as a result of climate change. In the survey name Climate Change, Water and Food Security, climate change will reduce the amount of water in river run-offs and aquifer rechargers in the Mediterranean and semi-arid areas of the Americas, Australia and Southern Africa. Asia, where farm push downs are irrigated by snowmelt from glaciers, will be affected and the river deltas will face reduction in water supply. Loss of gl aciers which support more than 40% of worlds irrigation will disastrously affect the amount of surface water available for irrigation. There will be acceleration in the hydrological cycle which increases the rate of evaporation of water from land and sea. This will increase rain pass off in tropical areas and higher latitudes while a decrease will be felt in semi-arid and mid-arid latitudes and the interior of the continents. An increase in the growing season of northern temperate zones and a decrease al approximately everywhere else will be seen.1The same report also gives some suggestive measures which countries can undertake. One key area requires countries to implement improve and maintain water accounts, which involves collecting data on amount of water used, transferred, etc. and analyzing them to come decisions on how water resources can be managed. At farm level, farmers can change cropping patterns to ascertain the weather pattern. Efficiency can be enhanced by introduc ing soil moisture conservation practices. Mixed agroforestry, match to the report, also holds promise. Going by the report, these above mentioned systems can sequester carbon and offer additional benefits manage reduced evaporation rates, and upgraded soil conservation and water withholding capacity.2_____________________________________________________________________________________1 UN News June 11 2011 http//www.un.org/apps/ news/story.asp?NewsID=38673.USyhm966ZLM2 FAO Report June 11 2011 http//www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/79964/icode/NATIONAL PERSPECTIVEIndia displays an bulky array of climatic conditions from the high altitudes of Himalayas to the long coasts, from the parched deserts of the West to the forests of the East. Owing to these complications, the effect of climate change will fluctuate across the country depending on the climatic conditions.In India almost 360 meg people are undernourished and 300 million people is poor.3Agriculture in India principally dep ends on the South West Monsoon, a short three month period. Hence, any deviation in this pattern will disrupt agriculture. Predicted effects include a drop in wheat production. Experiments have prove a 0.40C rise in the annual surface temperature. A predicted increase in maximum and borderline temperatures is sure to affect the ecosystems and water supply. Important rivers like Cauvery, Ganga and Narmada are presumable to experience seasonal and frequent water shortages.4In India, impact of climate change will increase sub-regional disparities and more extreme rainfall. This is ruinous in a country that obtains about 100 hours of rainfall in a year. A subject conducted by the human beings Bank in two droughts prone pleads and a flood prone state revealed that farmers in the drought prone states will see their income reduce by 20% and sugarcane yields fall by 25% while flooding will vividly lessen the rice yields by 12% in the other state.3The fertile Indo-gangetic plain will face a drop in fall by 5% which will fatally decrease the growing period. Large parts of central India will surely see a rise in the surface temperatures thereby lethally decreasing the yield of most crops. The climatic shifts are related to the fate of regional crop and livestock yields and the chronic hunger emplacement of Indian society show that farmers are unable to handle and adapt to the weather pattern.5According to a choose conducted by the Central Research Institute for Dry land Agriculture, Kharif crops will be affected by the rainfall variability while the Rabi crops will be affected by the rising temperatures. The study has also shown that wheat (staple food of northern India) will be affected by the temperature while the rice crop (staple food of southern India) will be affected by both the increase in temperature and decreasing rainfall. Legumes have proven to benefit from the increased temperature but have failed to withstand the water paucity. other thing to no te is that milk production will decrease as the yielding capacity of the intimidate decreases as temperature increases.6_____________________________________________________________________________________3 http//www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/undp_climate_change.pdf4 http//www.indiaclimateportal.org/What-climate-change- symbolises-for-India5 http//www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/Climate-change-induced-food-nightmare-stares-India/Article1-706704.aspx6 http//cdkn.org/2012/01/agriculture-and-climate-change-in-india/PERSONAL PERSPECTIVEChennai, as a metropolitan, does not face any consequences of climate change on agriculture. But this does not mean that it does not face any problems regarding food supply and water scarcity. As a matter of fact, food prices are soaring and water shortage is becoming an inevitable crisis.Scientists predict a 20C rise in temperature and drop in production of crops by 20%7Data has shown an increase in the temperature of sea surf ace by 0.310C between 1981 and 2001 April and an increase by 0.150C between 1981 and 2001 October. Although this seems to be a small change, the wrongfulness done is catastrophic to the aquatic life. The frequency of spawning of fish has decreased. Thus the total catch has decreased everywhere time. This has greatly affected the availability of this fish.8I conducted a survey in my neighborhood on this topic. ground on the results, it can be found that there will be a definite hike in food prices in the coming days. This can be attributed to the unpredictable nature of the rains which is caused due to globular warming. This is also reduced by less and less area coming under the cultivated land which is accelerated by the growth of industries and extensive use of fertilizers which has led to farmlands turning into wastelands. The prices of Mango, Eggplants, Rice, etc. are likely to rise. Water scarcity is also being faced and will continue to be faced in Chennai if no measures ar e taken. This is mainly because of the increasing number of complexes which use too much ground water leaving very less behind. Chennai also does not have any natural reservoir as such to store rain water.9The complete survey can be found in Annexure A_____________________________________________________________________________________7 http//www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article1156870.ece8 http//www.icrier.org/pdf/Policy_Series_No_16.pdf9 Survey conducted. This can be found in Annexure APOSSIBLE SCNEARIOCurrently, the world as a whole faces a food crisis mainly due to climate change. If these continue with no preventive measures being taken, a chain of events will occur which will in conclusion lead to apocalypse.Due to water scarcity, farmers tend to pull out more water from the ground thereby depleting the ground water resources and destroying the water table. Then, there would be less water available for farmers to use for irrigation. more(prenominal) importantly, ther e would be less water to quench the thirsts of the world. This will lead to heavy food shortage problems which will definitely lead to hike in food prices.Most likely, history will repeating itself. In 1789, a major event occurred that changed the course of time. It was the French revolution and its main cause was food shortage and the rise in food prices. Perhaps, another revolution might get sparked all oer the world that would lead to a change in the course of time again. It might be for the greater good, or it might just lead to deaths, sickness and finally the end of the human race.Another focal point of emotional stateing at this is that as all those who are unable to afford the high prices of food will just perish due to hunger and malnourishment. The population of the country decreases and the problem of overpopulation are overcome. But, as people start dying, the countrys production reduces. The countries all over the world slowly start becoming undeveloped.As this acco mplish takes place, riots will occur and countries will disintegrate. Wars will emerge and will perhaps lead to the third World War which will be fought for water and food. Basically, cataclysm will be raining down and the Dooms daylight will dawn.Either way, there will be an end to our species if we do not take agile actions to prevent these extreme situations.POSSIBLE COURSE OF ACTIONIf we were to solve the root of all these problems, then we would look at climate change and global warming. But solving this is not contained by the potential of one country. So, we have to observe adaption strategies for the problems mentioned in this report.Firstly, we exact to improve our research methods for forecasting floods. We also need to develop hybrid varieties for crops to make them withstand droughts and high temperatures. These should be available to the farmers at an affordable rate. The changing weather pattern should be analysed. Farmers should be made aware of this pattern so tha t they can plan their practices to match with the weather pattern to ensure greater yield and productivity.At the farm level, water management should be made compulsory. Although simple, crop rotation can do wonders. Farmers should reduce their dependence on ground water. Farmers should position more effective means to irrigate their lands. Drip irrigation and water sprinklers are effective. They should intensify cropping patterns for increased production. action of fertilizers should be matched with the irrigation. This will also help in escalating the yield.Finally, everyone should be educated and made aware of the flow rate crisis faced by the world. This will make them realise the threat and motivate them to take steps in conserving water and food.PERSONAL RESPONSEAfter researching on this topic, I am very much come to about the effects of climate change on agriculture. It directly influences the weather and amount of potable water thereby causing water scarcity and crop fai lures which eventually leads to food shortages. There is an unquestionable need for us to save water and stop lavishly frivolling away with food. If we do not do so the future generations will perish with nothing left to survive on. This is my opinion after researching on this topic. raillery Count 1,977 wordsBIBLIOGRPAHYInternet Pages Resourcedhttp//www.ifpri.org/publication/impact-climate-variability-and-climate-change-water-and-food-outcomes Retrieved on 24 February 2013http//copa-cogeca.eu/img/user/file/Climate/5660%20version%20E.pdf Retrieved on 24 February 2013http//www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/79964/icode/- Retrieved on 26 February 2013http//www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38673.USyhm966ZLM- Retrieved on 26 February 2013http//www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/11/food-climate-change-famine-india- Retrieved on 27 February 2013http//www.trust.org/alertnet/news/implications-of-climate-change-on-indian-agriculture-is-it-a-food-or-famine-situation Retrieved on 27 February 2013http//www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/Climate-change-induced-food-nightmare-stares-India/Article1-706704.aspx Retrieved on 27 February 2013http//www.nato.int/docu/review/2012/Food-Water-Energy/India_Nexus_Climate_resources_stability/EN/index.htm Retrieved on 27 February 2013http//www.researchgate.net/post/Climate_change_affects_the_distribution_of_rainfall_in_Indian_subcontinent_How_can_we_find_strategies_to_avoid_impacts_on_food_crops11 Retrieved on 27 February 2013http//cdkn.org/2012/01/agriculture-and-climate-change-in-india/ Retrieved on 27 February 2013http//www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article1156870.ece Retrieved on 28 February 2013http//www.icrier.org/pdf/Policy_Series_No_16.pdf Retrieved on 28 February 2013Reportshttp//www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2096e/i2096e.pdf Retrieved on 26 February 2013http//www.icrier.org/pdf/Policy_Series_No_16.pdf Retrieved on 28 February 2013http//www.adaptationlearning.net/sites/default/files/India%20UND P_Climate_Change.pdf Retrieved on 1 expose 2013