• By: Gowhar Fayaz Bhat
The climate change is the biggest environment emergency that earth Faces today. This Inevitable disaster has multitude of serious implications for both environment and human Society. Agriculture and its allied sectors are the mainstay of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy providing livelihood opportunities to 70% of its population and contributing around 27% to its income.
In last few years, because of climate change there has been dismal production of Paddy every year and farmers of different areas of valley are adopting horticulture. Agriculture Production has been always at the mercy of Unpredictable weather but a rapidly changing climate is making agriculture production an even more Vulnerable enterprise, with change in rainfall pattern, farmers feel dual threats from flooding and droughts.
Both extremes can destroy food crops. The Changing climate will Create havoc in future. With increasing water crisis, population explosion and climate change, the import of grains is going to be an uphill task in future and will further widen the already stressed fiscal deficit. According to reportd, the western Himalayan regions Comprising Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh Could heat upto Catastrophic level by end of the Century due to climate change and One of the most important thing in region is glaciers.
Increase in temperature will increase in melting of glaciers. The Places in Kashmir like Gulmarg and Pahalgam where you feel cold in July or August, as per study you will not have this situation. The temperature climate zone in Kashmir might not exist by end of the century.
Also Read : Husband shoots wife during heated argument in Bandipora
Rising in the Global temperature have been accompanied by changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen change in rainfall resulting in flooding or droughts. Over the past century human activities have released large amount of Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into atmosphere.
The majority of greenhouse gases is coming from burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes and other. These gases act like blanket around earth trapping energy in atmosphere and causing it to warm. The warmer it gets the worse climate will be. In Kashmir we have highest per capita water availability, but as ler, these projections, we will have to serve water Crisis. Water will be rationalized as the availability reduces by end of century. The projection Shows also impact on agriculture, horticulture and tourism. We are a rice eating people, we might have we to start importing rice. Similarly the winter tourism might reduce because of little snow and summer tourism might also reduce because of to little rain in Places Like “Dal lake” .
We have to keep in mind how climate Change has impacted us over the Past Century. If you allow this situation 84% of glaciers will not be there. As a matter of fact, Kashmir Which used to produce sufficient agriculture like rice or wheat is now meagrely producing cerels.Kashmir will very soon be importing every bit of food which the people of Kashmir will consume from the neighbouring States.
Climate change is a global Phenomenon. Action taken should also be Global. Regions like Himalayan will be the worst hit. One way to bring global warming down is to increase green cover. Development is okay, but it needs to strike a balance between the environment. We can take the lesson from Bhutan or from Japan that has 68% Country Under forest.
Author can be reached at gowharrfayaz070@gmail.com
