Climate change & agriculture

What is the effect of increased temperature on agriculture?

• More pests and diseases

• Impacts livestock - fewer pregnancies - less and lower quality milk.

• Crops immediately grow faster but long-term may impact crops.

What is the impact on water of climate change?

Puts rice crops at risk of drought/floods.

What is the effect of extreme weather on agriculture?

Soil erosion/runoff affects crops - from constant flooding and droughts.

What are the impacts of increased carbon dioxide on agriculture?

Compromise crops → 10% less protein, particularly cereal crops.

What is traditional subsistence farming like in tropical monsoons?

Subsistence rice cultivation is both water and labour - intensive.

What is the fear that climate change will do in tropical monsoons?

Fear that climate change will trigger far less predictable weather conditions, and in particular variations in precipitation that jeopardise traditional rice production.

What trials have been carried out in tropical monsoons?

Norwegian project called ClimaRice, which assesses variations in climate and impacts of availability of water on rice production.

Run trials in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, India, where water shortages are already evident.

What did the trials in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu demonstrate?

• Increased yields.

• lower labour costs (transplanting seedlings currently amounts to a third of the work effort in rice production).

• deeper root systems making the uptake of nutrients more efficient.

• markedly reduced methane emissions generated from microbe activity in padi fields.

How does climate change affect agriculture in a polar tundra?

Predict a warmer, wetter climate, resulting in further widespread thawing of permafrost and glacial retreat, a shorter season and reduced sea ice.

What happens as a result of a changing climate in polar tundras?

Changing migration patterns of wildlife, such as caribou, will have significant effects on the indigenous population, threatening the sustainability of existing settlements, infrastructure and lifestyles.

Give some examples of climate smart agriculture -

• Planting trees prevents soil erosion and blocks wind. Intercropping.

• Plants and soil capture carbon.

• Mulching - covering soil with a layer of material such as straw to protect it.

• Terracing - holds minerals and water. Layered. Prevents run-off. Stores water. Less runoff = less soil washed away.

• Water capture.

What can farmers get by carbon capturing?

Can get carbon credits (money).

How will adaptation benefit farming of crops?

Temperate regions will benefit more from adaptation than tropical regions.

• Switching to varieties tolerant to heat, drought or salinity.

• Optimising irrigation.

• Managing soil nutrients and erosion.

How will adaption benefit farming of livestock for small producers?

• Matching animal numbers to changes in pastures (lands).

• More farms that mix crops and livestock.

• Controlling the spread of pests, weeds and diseases.

How will adaptation benefit fisheries?

• Switching to more abundant species.

• Restoring degraded habitats and breeding sites like mangroves.

• Strengthening infrastructure such as ports and landing sites.

What environmental changes have occurred in Delhi, India?

• Superior seed varieties tested. Successful ones available through village seed banks. Heat stress tolerant varieties of wheat were introduced increasing yields by 12 - 18%.

• Agro-forestry where prosophis trees were planted alongside cowpea and pearl millet. Trees offer shade, and a wind break to conserve soil moisture

What economic changes have occurred in the Mewat region Delhi, India?

Farmers given access to information and technology platforms where they used their mobile phones to connect to specialist weather forecasting and agricultural production and advisory services.

How has the Mewat region in Delhi adapted to reduce wastage of water?

Underground pipelines laid in fields and used for high tech drip irrigation, reducing labour hours by 28% and increasing yields by 45%.

How does climate affect agriculture?

Affects agriculture as crops need certain conditions to grow, and food is needed to support a population.

Affects disease, some thrive in certain climates.