Palakkad: Rice output in the southern states has shrunk by 9 per cent in eight years as a result of climate change, shows a study led by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
In Kerala, the production of rice has fallen by 6 per cent in this period, while that of spices has dropped by 20 per cent and coconut by 10 per cent.
The research, conducted by the ISRO since 2008 December in 17 locations across India, has noticed a 38 per cent drop in rains in Kerala’s eastern areas.
Across the country, wheat production has dropped between 4.2 per cent and 15 per cent due to the impact of climate change, says the report.
If air pollution stays at current levels, India’s production of rice will fall by 18.2 per cent and wheat by 39.6 per cent in 20 years, warns the report.
As many as 14 institutions including IIT-Kanpur, the National Research Laboratory, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Kannur University also participated in the study. The head of Astrophysics at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, Prof. R. Shyamlal, coordinated the research.
Rise in temperature, fall in yield
Increased emission of greenhouse gases has pushed up atmospheric temperature. To survive in this environment, plants produce antioxidants on their leaves and trunk, which in turn reduce crop yield by a large extent, said Dr M.K. Satishkumar, a member of the research team and the head of African Space Research Project at the European Union Space Agency.
The antioxidants also affect the size, shape and taste of crops.
The report has suggested farmers to change their farming practices and use of seeds, and sought efforts at local levels to deal with pollution.
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