Study: Projected 18% Loss In Key Indian Grain Crops To Destabilized Climate By 2020

[hatrack]

Climate change is likely to bring down the production of key foodgrain crops like wheat and rice in the country by up to 18% in 2020, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.

"Climate change is projected to reduce timely sown irrigated wheat production by about 6% in 2020. In case of late sown wheat, the projected levels are to the extent of 18%," Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha. Further reduction by up to 25% in crop yields are projected in 2080, he noted.

Similarly, a 4% fall in crop yield of irrigated rice and 6% in rain-fed rice is seen due to climate changes by 2020.

The forecast are made by the government's agricultural research body ICAR usng crop simulation models incorporating future projections for 2020, 2050 and 2080, he added.

EDIT

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/climate-change-may-reduce-crop-output-by-18-in-2020-pawar-113042600552_1.html

[pscot]

1. Grain production is the key indicator

If there's not enough to eat, nothing else matters.