Hyderabad: India Meteorological Department Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Thursday said humanity could protect farming and horticulture only by tackling climate change together. He warned that small and marginal farmers faced the greatest risks and called for immediate support.
Dr Mohapatra explained that climate change not only affected farmers and citizens but also created difficulties for the meteorological department itself. He said the agency had moved ahead with strong strategies to address these problems.
Climate change impact on Telangana farming
Speaking at a seminar on horticulture and climate change, organised by Konda Laxman Bapuji Horticulture University and Dr Rajendra Prasad Agriculture University, he noted that forecasts still held only 40–50 per cent accuracy. However, he added that multi-forecast models could improve this figure.
He stressed that even farmers in remote villages must get tools to cope with climate stress. Cultivation practices, crop choices and farming methods needed revision, he said. He called for research on crop varieties that resisted climate change while ensuring quality and higher yields. He also urged constant communication so that every citizen understood the impact of climate change.
Experts call for coordinated strategy
Agriculture Secretary Raghunandan Rao said earlier research and policies had focused on national food security. Now, he said, the goal must shift toward nutrition security with new strategies. Climate change blocked these objectives, he warned, and demanded joint work by meteorologists, scientists and technical experts.
Horticulture University vice chancellor Dr Danda Rajireddy said the institution would deliver every possible technological and research-based tool to farmers. He promised that the government, the agriculture department and the university would act together to support them.
Seminar draws wide participation
Horticulture department director Sheikh Yasmeen Basha, NABARD chief general manager K. Uday Bhaskar, Borlaug Institute of South Asia leader Dr. Pramod Kumar Agarwal, university registrar Dr Bhagavan, along with experts, scientists and students, attended the seminar.
