FOOD SECURITY IS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

Food security in both developing and developed countries is likely to be affected by climate change. It has been projected that the agricultural productivity will see a significant drop due to climate change. The loss related to climate change is expected to hit developing countries hard, as agriculture employs a extensive number of people being their economic mainstay. These views were expressed by Dr. Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor, PAU while addressing a technical session \'Towards Climate Resilient Development-Way Forward\' during a National Policy Dialogue On Climate Change Actions on November 12 in the Parliament House Annexe at New Delhi.



The session was chaired by Prof. M.S.Swaminathan, Member of Parliament. The event was organized by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), United National Development Program (UNDP), World Conservation Union (IUCN), Development Alternatives and Watershed Development Trust (DAWDT).



Dr. Kang presented a wrap-up of the dialogue on climate change: the way forward. He said that the climate change and weather forecasting are the key focus area in the feed the future programme for global food security. The issue is being pro-actively pursued in the country as discussions and conferences are being arranged on the subject, said he informing that an international conference on \'Preparing agriculture for climate change\' at PAU in February, 2011 in which Dr. M.S.Swaminathan and experts from Australia, US and other countries are delivering key-note addresses.



The climate change can have multiple effects on agriculture and human living as well as on health, purchasing power and market flows, said Dr. Kang. Because, from the standpoint of food, the world is regarded as one civilization, all countries ,developed and developing will be impacted. In developing countries, such as India, climate change could adversely affect the already stressed ecological and socioeconomic systems because of rapid urbanization, industrialization, and economic development, observed Dr Kang.



The policy dialogue suggested linking grassroots actions to policy debate, up-scaling, knowledge sharing and science, while emphasizing that maintaining eco-system resilience was vital for an inclusive growth. Thus, actions to combat climate change must focus on eco-system based approach to augment human security and to manage natural resources sustainably.



The other prominent speakers who took part in the dialogue were Prof. K.V.Thomas, Minister of State, Food and Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Mr. Vijay Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest and Mr. R.R.Rashmi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest, GOI.



The programme had a video presentation on grassroot voices. The other dignitaries scheduled to address the gathering included Ms Florence Tinguely Mattli, Charge d\' Affairs, Embassy of Switzerland, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, GOI. The discussions focused on grassroots perspectives and policy imperatives and Informing and inspiring national policies and actions. Those who participated in discussions included Dr. Abhijeet Sen, member Planning Commision, Dr. N.K.Singh, M.P., Mr. Jagdish Kishwan, Additional DG, Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Prof. R.B.Singh, Advisor IFFCO Foundation, Mr. P.K.Basu, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, GOI, Mr. D.V.Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, GOI, Prof. Samir Brahamchari, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR, Mr. R. Gopalakrishana, Additional Secretary, Prime Minister\'s Office.
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