Newer ways to sustain crop output stressed

RANGPUR, May 23 (BSS): Innovation of newer ways, technologies and stress tolerant crop varieties through continuous research works can keep crop production increasing for ensuring sustainable food security amid adverse climate change impacts.
Experts, researchers and scientists made the observations while talking to the news agency here recently.
Experts, researchers and scientists laid emphasis on innovation of newer ways and technologies for cultivation of stress tolerance crops and popularise those among the farmers.
Associate Director (Agriculture) of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr MA Mazid said the changing climate might cause severe natural imbalance reducing agro-production to such a level that would not be enough to feed growing global population.
He feared the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture might be even unthinkable and so severe that the overall agriculture sector might be collapsed, and suggested the global communities to take the matter most seriously.
Executive Director of North Bengal Institute of Development Studies Dr Syed Samsuzzaman said climate change has already affected agriculture, irrigation, navigation, ecology, bio-diversity, environment and underground water levels.
As a result, rainfalls, floods, cyclones, droughts, cold and hot spells, sea and surface warming, water contamination, water and soil salinity, aquatic systems, silting and drying up of rivers, lowering of underground water levels are being affected.
The situation degrades faster because of melting ice due to temperature rise following vast emission of the Green House Gases like Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Hydro-flouro-carbons, Per-flouro-carbons, Sulphur Hexa-fluoride, he added.
Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid blamed the industrialised nations for degrading climate and their inadequate steps to save the most affected poorer nations from the possible man-made catastrophes in future.
Noted environmentalist and Consultant of International Rice Research Institute in Bangladesh Dr MG Neogi narrated the chronological background triggering climate change and its adverse impacts on global agriculture and other sectors.
The adverse climate change impacts might be unthinkable, so severe and million times worse than those experienced so far and the agri-sector might be collapsed, and so why, the global communities should take the matter most seriously, he stressed.
Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said the drying and silting up of the rivers and tributaries have further added to the degrading situation in the country.
The experts said climate change has changed period of appearance of different seasons including crop farming periods causing concern to the agriculture sector that might suffer further and severe set back in course of times.
They said there is no alternative to innovating newer technologies, ways and stress tolerant crops for cultivating those in all seasons to keep agro-production increasing amid degrading climatic situation for attaining sustainable food security.