‘Climate change to hit crop yield’

There is going to be a major shift in crop pattern across the state and the yields of different agriculture and horticulture crops will be reduced owing to climate change over the years, according to agriculture scientists.

Scientists in the field of climate change met at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, (UAS-B) on Thursday to discuss adaptive strategies to meet challenges of climate change.

According to Prof M B Rajegowda, Agro-meteorologist at UAS-B, temperatures are likely to rise gradually by 2.5-4 degrees Celsius from the current levels over the Indian subcontinent by 2035.

As a result, yield of some of important crops in Karnataka may fall by 10-20 per cent.

“For potato, a major commercial crop in the Hassan, Davangere, Kolar and Chikamagalur belt, the yield is expected to come down by 20 per cent due to increase in temperature. Similar is the case with soyabean. However, cotton yield could go up and down in different regions,” Rajegowda said.

Importance was also placed on conservation agriculture, a technological practice which has resulted in saving water, labour and energy apart from improving soil health and nutritional efficiency of the crops.

Dr M Mahadevappa, ex-vice chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad said though production has gone up with population, it was still not sufficient and fragmentation of land and resource degradation are affecting agriculture.

Mahadevappa said, “There is a need for scientists to not only do research, but also carry on extension activities to make technology reach people.