Climate change could have a severe impact on South Asia, where a large proportion of population depends on subsistence agriculture, a UN-sponsored conference said recently. The workshop-- examining the effects of global warming in South Asia with over two-thirds of its 1.52 billion-strong population living in rural areas—was organized by FAO and other UN organizations along with Ohio State University and the University of Dhaka. A UN representative said that climate is a crucial factor in formulating sustainable development strategies, and therefore has an overarching and cross-cutting role in the efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals, referring to the eight anti-poverty targets world leaders pledged to achieve by 2015.

Extension methods and dissemination of weather information help farmers harness climate change  --

Climate/ weather forecast now play a crucial role in determining the prospect of good harvest in the agricultural sector says Department of Meteorological Services. Prior awareness/ information of climatic and weather conditions to Botswanian farmers will help in deciding appropriate inputs required by the crops.  To ensure the dissemination of awareness to the grass root level, proper training is given to farmers by experts from the Department of Meteorology, Extension Scientists etc that can help them to take advantage and utilize every drop of the expected short and heavy rainfalls. Also alternatives are suggested by experts to trap water during rainy seasons to mitigate the impact of climate change and the consequent spells of drought mainly targeting small farmers.  

Government decides-Denial of Financial aid for farmers if severe weather hits

The Karoo farmers have been denied from the financial rescue/ bailout/ aid by the government authorities and insurance companies in order to deal with devastating droughts that can be caused by climate change and weather extremities. The main focus behind this warning is to encourage farmers to adapt to the changing climatic conditions by altering their farming practices, changing crop planting techniques instead of entirely relying on the government subsidies.

US Agriculture squeezed by Climate 

Recently, during the US Soyabean Industry Conference, discussions were held on the formidable challenge faced by US agriculture to grow enough crops in order to meet the increasing demands of population along with expanding  with the thriving new biofuel industry while reducing its impact on climate change. The concerns of most of the delegates attending were centred on the agriculture contribution to climate change and the call of the day is to reduce its ecological footprint. It can be achieved through carbon cap and trading mechanism with set government limits on allowable emissions of greenhouse gases. Since there is no National Policy which has been established in the country, it was decided in the conference that states will initiate action on their own to accomplish the targets.

Stringent Climate Change target could end farming in UK

The Climate change committee, an advisory to the UK Government on carbon cutting legislation has recommended increasing the targets from 60-80%. New targets to cut the UK's greenhouse emissions by 80 % per cent will cripple agriculture in the UK. This refers that methane and nitrous oxide, byproducts of farming practices, will have to be dropped significantly. On the contrary, representative of National Farmer’s Union explained that it would be impossible to bring about reduction in farming and agriculture as ploughing the soil and using fertilizers produces large amounts of nitrous oxide.  This triggers the fear of  food production to be stopped completely in order to accomplish the reduction target; but the only probable solution is to adopt innovative techniques, abatement opportunities available to reduce the emissions as well as self sustenance in terms of food production.

Task force to tackle climate change issues

The Planning Commission of Pakistan has established a task force comprising of prominent scholars and renowned scientists to address the challenges related to the phenomenon of climate change. The country is facing acute challenges of reduced agricultural productivity due to changes in land and water regimes, overuse of natural resources owing to climate change. Thus the  task force was established with the main objectives to develop guidelines/measures for mitigation and adaptation to cope with the challenges, evaluate institutional weaknesses and suggest measures for strengthening capacity of relevant institutions, promoting programme for advocacy and awareness, and mainstreaming climate change into national and sector-wise policies.