Projections For India: For Each Degree Rise In Temp, Loss Of 750 Kg Wheat/Hectare In Punjab

[hatrack]

For each degree rise in the temperature in the region, Punjab will lose 750 kg per hectare of wheat. This startling revelation emerged at the 13th Punjab Science Congress organised by Panjab University in collaboration with the Punjab Academy of Sciences to thrash out issues related to climate change.

Governor of Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra inaugurated the congress on ‘Climate change: Concerns and solutions’ at the university auditorium here today. Talking to The Tribune, Prof PC Kesavan, fellow of the MS Swaminathan Foundation, Chennai, revealed that the environmental degradation in Haryana and Punjab was a major cause of worry not only for the farmers, but also for the entire region.

“Punjab farmers had changed the face of the Indian agriculture in the past, but the environmental degradation is a cause of worry for the state. Wheat is very sensitive to the temperature, even more than rice and even half a degree rise can bring down the output,” said Kesavan.

An alumnus of the university, Vohra struck a note of caution in his inaugural address, while taking cognisance of the theme of the congress, he called upon a gathering to hit the ‘pause and think’ button for a greener and healthier tomorrow. “This science congress must come up with recommendations specific to Punjab, Haryana and the neighbouring states, so that results can be shown at a local level first to find out a solution at the national and global levels,” said Vohra.

EDIT

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100208/main5.htm

[biscotti]

1. I was all over India this past

summer. The monsoons were very late. Farmers had planted their fields as usual but the rain was very late coming.

[aquart]

2. Do we think it's only going to happen to them?

What's happening in our wheat belt?