Climate change, long-term fluctuation in weather patterns. It has been a continuous issue for some decades and a gradual process. It involves shifts in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other aspects of the Earth’s climate system. Climate change can occur naturally but in recent decades, human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have significantly accelerated these changes. The most well-known consequence of climate change is global warming, which refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The atmosphere, hydrosphere, land surface, cryosphere and biosphere are the major 5 climate system components. Countries of Asia continent faced the great effects of CC in 2000-2008. South Asia will be deprived of its own crop productivity in wheat at 50%, rice at 17% and maize at 6% in the near 2050. The contribution of Agriculture is 47% for methane gas emissions and 58% for oxides of nitrogen. Climate change causes problems of soil erosion, aridity, acidity and waterlogged. 2.5-2.8°C increase in temperature till 2050 and 3.9-4.4°C increase in temperature till 2080s is predicted.
It is the duty of the government to make people aware of the issues related to climate change and raise awareness for the sustainable development of the agricultural system also provides guidelines to the farmers through the extension office for sustainable use of their resources to increase crop yield/productivity.
Introduction:-
We know that Pakistan is considered an agricultural country, and about 47% population is directly attached to the agriculture sector. In 2021, agriculture’s role in contributing GDP of Pakistan was above 22 percent(Aaron O’Neill, 2023) and 4.18 % in 2023. In simple words, Climate change is a long-term change in weather patterns. Anthropogenic Interventions cause the induction of climate change that results in global warming. The main driver for climate change is fossil fuel burning by human activities since the 1800s.
The scenario of climate change has predicted that the temperature will rise by three degrees in 2040 and may lead to six degrees at the end of the present century. Rains will drastically lessen but have higher intensity. There is also a prediction of droughts and floods that will cover South Asia. It is also observed that weather patterns are more intense every year. Burning of fossil fuels causes the production of great amounts of greenhouse gas that is first hydrocarbon CH4 and carbon dioxide.
These gases cover the earth’s surface like a blanket and trap the light from the sun which results in the rising temperature of the earth’s crust. Clearance of land and cutting the forests on a large scale allows a huge amount of methane gas released into the environment that pollutes the environment and surroundings and also disturbs the cropping pattern of crops or vegetation. The previous ten-year period recorded the warmest temperature.
Major contributors to Climate Change:-
The gas emissions that result in climate change and global warming are produced all over the world but some countries are main in Climate Change induction, described as below:-
China, India, the United States of America, the European Union, Indonesia, the Russian Federation and Brazil.
Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture
- Water scarcity results in changing cropping patterns and crop rotation.
- Reduced yield of different types of crops like maize, barley, wheat cotton etc.
- 15-20% yield reduction of major crops is observed in Pakistan, especially in southern areas.
- Sometimes sudden fluctuation occurs due to climate change and it limits the yield by shrinking of seed produced in spikes.
- The decreased population of livestock and the stress of milk, meat and poultry results in food insecurity.
- Greenlands are under stress due to water shortage and this results in clearance of land also by increased population. Thus cultivated areas are continuously decreased. Forest land is also very little in our country(less than 5%).
- Extremely increased levels of carbon dioxide cause suffocation that results in different diseases for animals as well as humans. Plant growth is also reduced due to photo-respiration during high levels of carbon dioxide.
- Increased floods cause a great loss of animal biodiversity and also crop biodiversity. It also causes soil problems for crop cultivation as the proportion of soil is disturbed when sandy soil is added to the cultivated land.
- The top fertile layer is mostly runoff due to flooding thus causing problems for crop production.
- It causes many plant diseases and weed propagation that ultimately reduce the plant and crop yield. During flooding, many weed seeds are dispersed through water. This water sometimes contains many harmful microorganisms and different types of plant pathogens. Thus there is an increase in the cost of production of crops by spending large amounts on pesticides and fungicides medicines.
- Pakistan has the great advantage of exporting valuable fruits, vegetables and horticultural products. When they are not in sufficient amounts then it will be the leading cause of food security and exports will also be affected.
- The economy of farm communities will be affected and the small land-holding farmers will deprived of food. Then it will result in an increased percentage of uneducated people.
- Rice is already cultivated in fewer areas in Pakistan and it requires more water for good productivity
Is the Climate change condition in Pakistan’s is alarming?
Climate change impacts on the whole of South Asia are alarming.
IFPRI stated that “South Asia will be severely affected by this issue. Almost at reaching the era of 2050, it will lose its 50% Wheat Production”. Pakistan is about 28th among those that are most affected by climate change. Pakistan is included in the top 10 countries that are adversely disturbed by climate change. IFPRI;- The International Food Policy Research Institute
Adaptation required for Pakistan:-
Such adaptations are required that stabilize the agriculture growth rate to 7.5% which is a 5 percent increase from the growth rate of the population i.e. 2.5%.
- Fundraising in the research and development sector to mitigate the stresses.
- Advanced technology is required that will predict precipitation, floods, storms, hailstorms droughts etc.
- By use of modern Biotechnology, we need to breed different species in livestock and also prepare varieties that are resistant to extreme drought and water-logged conditions.
- Offer training and capacity building of farmers for 10 agro-ecological zones of Pakistan.
- Funds for the forests and tree management. Ensure that wildlife safety rules must be followed for the conservation of biodiversity in different ecological zones.
- Use renewable energy sources like wind and light coming from the sun instead of using fossil fuels to minimise carbon emissions.
- Use a source of public transport instead of using personal sources to reduce poisonous gas emissions in the environment.
- Making policies for the emissions of greenhouse gas and warning industrial owners to change the poisonous gases into less toxic forms before release to the open environment.
Conclusion:-
It is our first duty to manage all the resources efficiently in such a way that they pollute the environment least. We should use conservation technologies and renewable resources of energy to decrease the effects of climate change. Shifting of own resources for travelling by public transport to reduce the emission of harmful gases. Forest areas should be increased from 4.5% to almost 25% for the sustainable development of the country. Conserve the animal biodiversity and their habitats. A dam should be formed for water storage in order to reduce the loss caused by flooding. By following the above parameters, we can make sustainable development and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Hashir Mahmood
University Of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
