Writer:Sushil pokhrel
BSc Agriculture,TU
Altough Nepal shares less than 0.025% of Global Green House Gases (GHGs) emission, it has witnessed the several visible effects of climate change.
As per the data, In terms of vulnerability to climate change,globally it is ranked as a 4th country . In consequence,the average annual temperate of Nepal is estimated to be increased by 0.06°C (Hill/mountain-0.08°C, Terai-0.04°C).
This rising temperature has a significant impact on the sector of agriculture. As a general hard and fast rule, it is predicted that there will be a 10% decrease in yield for every 1° rise in temperature above optimum level.
Inorder to mitigate this climate change possible pathways are to reduce greenhouse gases emission (as agriculture sector alone contribute 13% of total GHGs emission) or to enhance carbon sinks.
However, In the contemporary context, a farming system that will be more adaptable to this changing climate should replace old one immediately rather than just thinking about preventing it. In short, we need to develop a climate smart agricultural production system. Some of the basic approaches, which seems to be suitable for Nepal,are pointed out below in seven bullets.
• Adaptation of ICT and other new technologies,such as GIS, weather forecasting tools for early warning system, Index-based insurance etc. This will certainly help in minimizing risk and uncertainty during farming, and aid in choosing particular crop for a particular agroclimatic zone that is being constantly changed.
• Adoption of below mentioned climate resilient and eco-friendly technology and practices-
a. Resource conservative technologies: Zero or minimum tillage, DSR.
b. Organic/Ecological farming: IPM,GAPs,IPNMS.
c. Solar power irrigation and water harvesting technologies primarily in the rainfed farming systems.
d. Bio-energy and adoption of biogas.
e. Slope stabilization and landslide control.
• Development and promotion of climate resilient crop varieties will help in stabilizing the yield without any other change in cultural operations.
For example:
a. Paddy- Drought tolerant [ Sukhadhan 1,2,3], Flood tolerant [ Swarna sub 1, Samba mansuli sub 1 ], Drought and flood tolerant [ Bahuguni 1,2].
b. Tomato- Rust resistant [ Srijana F1 ]
c. Wheat- High temerature and hot wind tolerant,leaf and yellow rust resistant [ Aditya ].
• Shifting to new crops and cropping patterns that are more adapted to adverse climate change. For instance, Replacing rice with millets and integration of leguminous crops in cropping pattern.
• Alternating the crop and soil management practices. For example; Change in the timing of planting/transplantation can help to cope with changing climatic factors.
• Diversity in crop's genetic background and crop diversification through mixed and integrated farming enhances functional diversity, stabilize and improve yield in changing weathers. Diversed farm will also certainly assist in stabilizing the farm income if any one of the production unit fails to achieve desired otcomes due to abrupt change in climate.
• Finally, agrobiodiversity conservation along with indigenous local crop species of great potential. As an illustration, minor crops like buckwheat, foxtail, prosomillet can be grown fully within a very short period of time (2-3 months). Farming of such crops might help to obtain harvest in a short time rather than waiting long in a drastically changing climate. Moreover, preserving the genetic race of local breed will also be more useful as a future prospective.
In conclusion, these seven approaches are not the ultimate one. These are the most basic and crucial steps that should be primarily be focused in a developing country like Nepal. As we might not be able to develop and afford expensive technologies and cultivation practices, so these low budget approach are highly recommend at this instance.
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