Farmers in India are experiencing serious climatic threats, such as irregular weather, limited water resources, and declining incomes.
They are calling for the legalization of the current government procurement system, as well as an increase in the minimum price for a broader range of crops, to enable them to transition away from thirsty rice and wheat farming. However, some agricultural specialists contend that increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for products will not solve farmers' larger climatic challenges or reduce demand for finite water supplies. India accounts for 10% of total agricultural output and is the world's second-largest producer of rice and wheat.
Erratic rainfall and shorter winters are reducing yields, with heavy downpours triggering flooding and a quick temperature increase causing wheat grain to shrivel. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature reduces wheat yield by 4-5 million tonnes. Farmers are utilizing more inputs such as water and fertilizer to enhance declining yields, resulting in greater production costs and reduced profit margins. The latest protest is unlikely to result in discourse about the larger issues confronting farmers, as they already have MSP for wheat and rice.
India's farmers have been taking a stand against climate change by demanding pensions, debt cancellation, sanctions for selling fake agricultural products, and the country's exit from the World Trade Organisation, among other things. The government is committed to providing farmers with high-yielding, hardy seed varieties while also encouraging effective water and nutrient use. Protesting farmers, on the other hand, claim that the government's actions are insufficient to assist them in adapting to a changing climate and water scarcity.
Madhura Swaminathan, the late MS Swaminathan's daughter, feels that increased use of technology can help farmers adapt to climate change. She cites examples of increased use of technology, such as the installation of groundwater sensors linked to smartphone apps, which offers farmers a feasible solution to the issues provided by climate change. These technical improvements, which enable remote management of water pumps and promote effective water utilization, can help to increase water conservation efforts and overall agricultural sustainability in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.
