Post-droughts,Himachal wakes up to combat climate change dangers

Two droughts wiping out 50 per cent of the rabi crop,the apple produce reduced to half of its usual quantity,the unusual rise in temperature...

Two droughts wiping out 50 per cent of the rabi crop,the apple produce reduced to half of its usual quantity,the unusual rise in temperature,and the delayed monsoons warning signs of the states growing vulnerability to climate change.

The climate change experts,who had met at Shimla last week for the two-day Himalayan Chief Ministers conclave on Climate Change,conveyed to the state that the mountains are going to face the worst effects of climate change and it was time to reinvent policies towards sustainable agriculture and water use.

Experts like Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment believe that in the coming days,the apple crop is going to be severely affected,there will be gradual reduction in snowfall,and lesser and delayed rainfall will result in havocs like flash floods and landslides.

The impact of climate change will be equally severe on traditional crops like maize,wheat and cereals.

The obvious question that crops up is the state agriculture departments response to the dangers posed by climate change. Ramsubhag Singh,Secretary,Agriculture and Horticulture,admits,It is time for the state to take proactive steps on climate change adaptation,focusing mainly on sustainable agriculture and water use.

In fact,Himachal Pradesh,Singh says is one of the Himalayan states which had already set in motion a multi-pronged strategy to redraft certain policies. As a first step,the state has written to vice-chancellors of two universities Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University,Palampur, and Dr Y S University of Horticulture and Forestry to set up a climate change cells and start specific research projects on changes required in the crops grown in state.

In order to adapt to the reduction in the snowfall and rise in temperature,experts say,farmers may have to switch to cultivation of cash crops instead of traditional crops. The apple crop might have to shift from the mid-hills to higher reaches of the mountains with Lahual-Spiti and Kinnaur areas.

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A big initiative,which Himachal has taken,is that of commissioning a Technical Assistance Reconnaissance Mission of the Asian Development Bank ADB to prepare a strategy paper for the state. The mission headed by Vidhisha N Samarasekara,a climate change specialist,has already visited the state and travelled to districts like Hamirpur.

Besides,the states recently launched Rs 352 crore polyhouse and drip irrigation project appears to have received a acknowledgement from experts and the ADB mission towards meeting the challenges posed by climate change.