CLIMATE CHANGE HAS STARTED AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY EXPERT

LUDHIANA, JULY 1:



Dr Ram Niwas, Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, visited the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and delivered a thought-provoking lecture on "Climate Change and Agriculture." The lecture was organized by ClimOClub, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, PAU. Dr Niwas, who is having an immense experience on agricultural meteorology, shed light on the scenario of changing climate in India. He divulged that climate change has started affecting the crop yields, especially, that of wheat in north-west parts of the country. Pointing out that the temperature in India, on an average, has increased by 0.5oC during the last 100 years, he deliberated on various anthropogenic and natural causes of climate change and their effects on earth's eco-system and productivity of major crops.



Dr S.S. Kukal, Director, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, PAU, observed that both maximum and minimum temperatures being higher during wheat season of 2013 have resulted in decline of wheat productivity in Punjab. He emphasized the need for collaborative research to combat the negative effects of climate change in the state in future. Dr Kukal highlighted that the PAU has taken many initiatives in this direction by upgrading the Department of Agricultural Meteorology to School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, wherein the scientists from different disciplines work together to find practical solutions to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.



The faculty members from various departments of the PAU also discussed the methodologies to be followed in mitigating the climate change.


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