been estimated that only 5 % of small and marginal farmers have access to agricultural extension services and that 40 % of agricultural extension posts in India
remain unfilled (Agarwal 2011: 10). Adding further layers to this problem, forma
education levels in much of rural India remain at low levels. Of course, there is a
rich well of indigenous knowledge amongst Indian farmers, including knowledge
about how to manage climatic adversity. Successful adaptation pathways will
require improvements to the level of formal institutional and educational support for
Indian agriculture, to dovetail with the knowledge already held by Indian farmers.
Third and finally, the discussion in this chapter presupposes a period of gradual
climate change, however, there remains a possibility of the world moving into a
period of dangerous climate change by the middle of this century, which would
necessitate much more rapid and profound destabilizations of food systems. It is
possible, for example, for India to be facing its own climate change struggles whilst
simultaneously trying to manage a sure in climate refugees from low-lying
neighbours such as Bangladesh and Maldives, and intensified geopolitical tensions
with Pakistan and Nepal over the control of water in major river systems such as the
Indus and Kosi. In a scenario of dangerous climate change, it is difficult to foresee
what would happen to world food trade, but heightened protectionism could be one
possibility, leading to greater difficulties in the procurement of key foods that India
is import-reliant upon, such as pulses, as noted above. Sea-level rises would also, it
needs noting, have some of their most important ramifications on coastal cities,
which in the Indian context include Chennai and Mumbai, which are both prone to
flooding.
To conclude, there are numerous uncertainties associated with climate change
and its relationship to food security. With a changing climate worldwide, this
relationship will be altered in numerous ways. Paying attention to this issue through
prioritization in research and policy is a crucial contribution for humanity in the
twenty-first century.
References
Agarwal, B. (2011). Twelfth plan working group on disadvantaged farmers including women.
Final report submitted to the Planning Commission of India, online. http://indiagovernance.
gov.in/files/working_group-report-farmers.pdf. Accessed January 29, 2013.
Asseng, S., Ewert, F., Martre, P., Rotter, R. P., Lobell, D. B., Cammarano, D., et al. (2015). Rising
temperatures reduce global wheat production. Nature Climate Change, 5(2), 143–147. http://
dx.doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2470
Ayers, J., & Forsyth, T. (2009). Community-based adaptation to climate change. Environment:
Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 51(4), 22–31.
Bhalla, S. (2012). Notes on land, long run food security and the agrarian crisis in India. IHD
Working Paper Series, 02/2012, Institute for Human Development, New Delhi.
CFS (Committee on World Food Security). (2012). Coming to terms with terminology: Food
security, nutrition security, food security and nutrition, food and nutrition security.
Document CFS 2012/39/4. Rome: FAO. http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/026/MD776E.pdf
The Impacts of Climate Change for Food and Nutrition Security: …
21
remain unfilled (Agarwal 2011: 10). Adding further layers to this problem, forma
education levels in much of rural India remain at low levels. Of course, there is a
rich well of indigenous knowledge amongst Indian farmers, including knowledge
about how to manage climatic adversity. Successful adaptation pathways will
require improvements to the level of formal institutional and educational support for
Indian agriculture, to dovetail with the knowledge already held by Indian farmers.
Third and finally, the discussion in this chapter presupposes a period of gradual
climate change, however, there remains a possibility of the world moving into a
period of dangerous climate change by the middle of this century, which would
necessitate much more rapid and profound destabilizations of food systems. It is
possible, for example, for India to be facing its own climate change struggles whilst
simultaneously trying to manage a sure in climate refugees from low-lying
neighbours such as Bangladesh and Maldives, and intensified geopolitical tensions
with Pakistan and Nepal over the control of water in major river systems such as the
Indus and Kosi. In a scenario of dangerous climate change, it is difficult to foresee
what would happen to world food trade, but heightened protectionism could be one
possibility, leading to greater difficulties in the procurement of key foods that India
is import-reliant upon, such as pulses, as noted above. Sea-level rises would also, it
needs noting, have some of their most important ramifications on coastal cities,
which in the Indian context include Chennai and Mumbai, which are both prone to
flooding.
To conclude, there are numerous uncertainties associated with climate change
and its relationship to food security. With a changing climate worldwide, this
relationship will be altered in numerous ways. Paying attention to this issue through
prioritization in research and policy is a crucial contribution for humanity in the
twenty-first century.
References
Agarwal, B. (2011). Twelfth plan working group on disadvantaged farmers including women.
Final report submitted to the Planning Commission of India, online. http://indiagovernance.
gov.in/files/working_group-report-farmers.pdf. Accessed January 29, 2013.
Asseng, S., Ewert, F., Martre, P., Rotter, R. P., Lobell, D. B., Cammarano, D., et al. (2015). Rising
temperatures reduce global wheat production. Nature Climate Change, 5(2), 143–147. http://
dx.doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2470
Ayers, J., & Forsyth, T. (2009). Community-based adaptation to climate change. Environment:
Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 51(4), 22–31.
Bhalla, S. (2012). Notes on land, long run food security and the agrarian crisis in India. IHD
Working Paper Series, 02/2012, Institute for Human Development, New Delhi.
CFS (Committee on World Food Security). (2012). Coming to terms with terminology: Food
security, nutrition security, food security and nutrition, food and nutrition security.
Document CFS 2012/39/4. Rome: FAO. http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/026/MD776E.pdf
The Impacts of Climate Change for Food and Nutrition Security: …
21