Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in the Gir Kesar …
397
6 Conclusion
Mango is one of the important horticultural crop, highly in demand and has positive
export potential. This chapter discussed the climate change issues in the context
of Gir Kesar mango in Gujarat alone. Nevertheless, there are several states, which
produce mango and perhaps undergoing the impacts of climate change. India is
number one in mango production and has considerable export potential. Production
loss due to climate change would affect the exports eventually. Recurrent production
losses would make the farmers to reduce the area under cultivation or opt for different
livelihood.
The brief highlight of the socio-economic analysis showed the precarious situation
of the farmers. Hence, any disturbances to yield due to climatic factors would put
the farmers in a very vulnerable situation. This study discussed several adaptation
measures, though at the ground level such measures have not been adopted at a large
scale. This requires considerable extension measures to spread awareness among
the farmers. Mitigation measures need to be in place to prevent long-term impact of
climate change at the micro and macro level. While at the macro level, countries try
to reduce the greenhouse gases through various policy measures, at the micro level
coordinated efforts need to continue. For instance, it was mentioned that majority
of the farmers are using wells and bore wells to draw water. However, as the rain
vagaries are increasing, farmers tend to opt for more ground water extraction. With
inadequate rain, the sweet water table would go down and the salinity level would
increase, which would affect the quality of the product and eventually the cropping
pattern. Hence, it is essential that there is a cap on the ground water extraction in the
area. Further, measures like watersheds would improve the ground water table.
The Government of India through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) has launched a scheme My Village My Pride. Under this scheme, ICAR
scientists adopt villages from different parts of India to provide technical and other
information to farmers. Gir Kesar mango producers who have to deal with the climate
change issues would benefit immensely by such guidance.
India is one of the countries that brought out a plan namely National Action Plan
on Climate Change (NICC), under which there are various sub-plans for different
sectors. One of the focus areas of the national mission for sustainable agriculture is
to develop new varieties of crops that are resistant to different challenges in climate.
The National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) under Indian
Council for Agriculture Research has been focusing on enhancing the resilience of
Indian agriculture to climate variability and climate change through strategic research
on adaptation and mitigation. Hopefully in future, such efforts would bring out both
adaptation and mitigation strategies for the horticulture sector that would help the
farmers to realize better returns from horticulture.
397
6 Conclusion
Mango is one of the important horticultural crop, highly in demand and has positive
export potential. This chapter discussed the climate change issues in the context
of Gir Kesar mango in Gujarat alone. Nevertheless, there are several states, which
produce mango and perhaps undergoing the impacts of climate change. India is
number one in mango production and has considerable export potential. Production
loss due to climate change would affect the exports eventually. Recurrent production
losses would make the farmers to reduce the area under cultivation or opt for different
livelihood.
The brief highlight of the socio-economic analysis showed the precarious situation
of the farmers. Hence, any disturbances to yield due to climatic factors would put
the farmers in a very vulnerable situation. This study discussed several adaptation
measures, though at the ground level such measures have not been adopted at a large
scale. This requires considerable extension measures to spread awareness among
the farmers. Mitigation measures need to be in place to prevent long-term impact of
climate change at the micro and macro level. While at the macro level, countries try
to reduce the greenhouse gases through various policy measures, at the micro level
coordinated efforts need to continue. For instance, it was mentioned that majority
of the farmers are using wells and bore wells to draw water. However, as the rain
vagaries are increasing, farmers tend to opt for more ground water extraction. With
inadequate rain, the sweet water table would go down and the salinity level would
increase, which would affect the quality of the product and eventually the cropping
pattern. Hence, it is essential that there is a cap on the ground water extraction in the
area. Further, measures like watersheds would improve the ground water table.
The Government of India through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) has launched a scheme My Village My Pride. Under this scheme, ICAR
scientists adopt villages from different parts of India to provide technical and other
information to farmers. Gir Kesar mango producers who have to deal with the climate
change issues would benefit immensely by such guidance.
India is one of the countries that brought out a plan namely National Action Plan
on Climate Change (NICC), under which there are various sub-plans for different
sectors. One of the focus areas of the national mission for sustainable agriculture is
to develop new varieties of crops that are resistant to different challenges in climate.
The National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) under Indian
Council for Agriculture Research has been focusing on enhancing the resilience of
Indian agriculture to climate variability and climate change through strategic research
on adaptation and mitigation. Hopefully in future, such efforts would bring out both
adaptation and mitigation strategies for the horticulture sector that would help the
farmers to realize better returns from horticulture.