Agriculture in South Asia highly vulnerable to climatic variability

Warn experts

FE Team | Published: May 21, 2022 22:03:00

DU Correspondent
Experts have warned that agriculture in South Asia is highly vulnerable to climatic variability and climate change, especially in rain-fed regions. They also identified South Asian countries at 40 pc risk of natural disasters following the impact of climate change across the world.
They made these remarks at a press conference 'Meet the Press' held at Professor Abdul Matin Virtual Classroom of Dhaka University (DU) campus on Saturday.
They referred to the recommendations made at the International Conference on Climate Change and Food Security (CCFS) in South Asia, held at Nabab Nawab Ali Choudhury Senate Bhaban of DU campus from May 18 to May 20, 2022.
DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Chairman of International Committee of CCFS Dr. Mannava Sivakumar and Chief Coordinator of the Conference Committee Dr. A.H.M. Mustafizur Rahma were present at the 'Meet the Press' on Saturday.
The International Conference was jointly organised by DU and CNRS, France and sponsored by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO); the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). There were eight technical sessions in this International Conference.
The experts said that agriculture in South Asia is highly vulnerable to climatic variability and climate change, especially in rain-fed regions. Climate change has multi-dimensional impacts on agro-ecosystems in South Asia, including increases in temperature, declines in fresh water availability, sea level rise, glacial melting in the Himalayas, increased frequency and intensity of extreme events, and shifting of cropping zones. They all impact the agriculture and the related food sector as well as the general economies, societies and environment in South Asia. South Asia accounts for some 40 pc of globally recorded extreme events.
According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the next few years will be critical. There are hard choices to be made about infrastructure; new service provision systems; policies and incentives and public investment so that development pathways in South Asia can shift towards sustainable development and development becomes climate resilient.
This International Conference identified several key recommendations to implement programmes designed to minimise short and long-term vulnerability of the South Asian region to climate change.
The principal recommendations are --Creating a Climate Change and Food Security South Asia Network (CCFSSANet) and establishing a South Asia Climate Outlook Forum (SACOF); Stimulating multi-disciplinary research on climate change and food security in South Asia and identifying effective mitigation and adaptation options, including carbon sequestration in different ecosystems; There are several adaptation measures that the agricultural sector can undertake to cope with future climate change, emphasis should be placed on the implementation of such adaptation strategies such as the improved livestock managementThis International
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