Vital Crop Output to Drop, Ratnagiri Mangoes May Go

State's climate change report lists dire predictions for agriculture as well as remedial measures

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI: The recently released 'Maharashtra State Action Plan on Climate Change 2030' has some sobering predictions about the impact of climate change on the state's agriculture. The report predicts that major agricultural produce like sugarcane, cotton and soyabean could dip by 20 to 80% in the next 15 years, and the iconic Alphonso mango may have to be shifted out of Ratnagiri, dealing a major blow to farmers.

Sugarcane, being a tropical crop, needs a temperature of between 27 and 38 degrees Celsius to grow. With substantial increase in temperature by 2040, its production could reduce by 40% to 80% in Marathwada and 20% to 40% in central Maharashtra. Excessive rainfall, which is expected to be the norm in the next 15 years, affects cotton pod development and maturity, boll formation and boll bursting stage, and will impact cotton production and quality. Soyabean yield too is expected to fall sharply, as a rise of just 1 degree Celsius results in a dip of 3% to 7%.