Many agricultural systems in developing countries are nearing crisis point. According to the UNFCCC (2007), developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of adaptation to those adverse effects. Climate change has already started to affect the paddy sector and by 2050, the paddy yield is expected to reduce by 20%. There is no doubt that systems worldwide will have to adapt because drought, heat, salt and flood-tolerant paddy varieties, new ways to irrigate paddy and better ways to manage soils are just some of the technologies that hold great promise to help farmers today, and into the future. The agricultural scientists are making some progress in developing innovations to withstand the adverse effects and the agricultural extension has a responsibility to assist the paddy farmers to adopt such technologies.
Since the world population is increasing at 1.17% annually, an annual increase in rice production by 0.6–0.9% is required until 2050 (Carriger & Vallee, 2007) to meet the anticipated demand. Rice occupies 23% of the total cultivated area under cereals in the world, of which 89% is in Asia (FAO, 2003). Hence, Asia produces 91% of the world paddy production (Dubey, 2001), on which nearly half of the world’s population depends for food and livelihood (Carriger & Vallee, 2007). More than 30% of the total labor force of the island is linked directly or indirectly to the rice sector. More frequent and more intense, extreme weather events will have adverse immediate impacts on rice production and livelihood of farmers in rural areas. Hence, past experience alone can no longer provide a reliable guide to the future (Adger, 2004). In Sri Lanka, among many crops, paddy is one of the major crops that vulnerable to the climate change effect
According to the Socio Economic and Planning Centre, Department of Agriculture publication in the year 2009 Yala season, there was a 47% decrease in production when compared with Yala 2008. The reason for reducing yield was delay in onset of rains in many districts in Sri Lanka and prolong dry period. Further, according to the Five Year Work Plan 2006 – 2010 published by Department of Agriculture, illustrated that some of major problems for agriculture production in the country are inherent limitation of climate, un-assured water supply, weather and soil related problems, environmental pollution and weak extension – research linkages.
Climate change will worsen the living conditions of farmers and they are already vulnerable and food insecure. Rural communities dependent on agriculture in a fragile environment will face an immediate risk of increased crop failures. In general, poor people will be at risk of food insecurity due to loss of assets and lack of adequate insurance coverage. However, In this critical situation of local environment the most practical and sustainable response strategy available for agricultural sector is the adaptation (Punyawardane, 2002). In order to mitigate the effect, the primary action should be taken to make aware the both farmers and others who assist farmers regarding the relevant problems and the potential impact of climate change on paddy cultivation. In this regards, agricultural extension services have a responsibility to make prepare the farmers for such challenges created by climate change, because agricultural extension officers are the people who closely relate with many small scale paddy farmers in rural areas in Sri Lanka. Through them many technologies and innovations can be disseminated towards farmers to upgrade their knowledge, skills and attitudes. So it is important to find out how far agricultural extension services have taken this problem to the account. A research has been conducted in Kurunegala district to find out the awareness of the agricultural extension officers about the climate change and its impacts on paddy sector. There has been assessed the awareness by considering mainly three categories, they are the causes of climate change, overall impact on climate change and negative impact of climate change on paddy cultivation. According to the results of this study, majority of the extension officers have known about the causes of climate change but very few of them had a good knowledge of the negative impact of climate change on paddy cultivation. As Sri Lanka is a developing country, it is a must to ready to face the future challenges of climate change, and get to know about the impact and adaptation techniques of climate change towards agriculture.
In Sri Lanka, there has been a significant reduction of annual average rainfall by 7% during the time period of 1931-1960 to 1961-1990 by the North-east monsoon while South-west monsoon has no significant change (Department of Meteorology, 2010). According to the experience of the agricultural extension officers, 65% of them said that there are no rain available when farmers expect and when rain is not expected there are rains. So they have observed a significant change of the distribution of rainfall pattern and rain is not coming when it is expected. It has been noticed by 38% that the amount of water received to the catchment has decreased when compared to 5 to 10 years time period before. In Sri Lanka annual mean air temperature anomalies have shown significant increasing trends during the recent few decades (Department of Meteorology, 2010). This was confirmed by 37% of respondents who said that there have been changes in the Yala and Maha seasons within the recent years. Majority (53%) of the respondents said that the area had experienced drought conditions extending for one to six months within the last five years. This has severely affected to the paddy cultivation of the area resulting in many neglected paddy lands that cannot be cultivated because of the water scarcity. In Kurunegala district, main pests in paddy fields found were Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) and Rice Leaf Folder, and also their population density has been increased rapidly when compared with about five years time before. Those two pests species are expected to be increase in high temperature and humidity conditions that exists under changing climate.
There are some management practices that can be used as strategic methods to minimize the negative effects of climate change on paddy cultivation areas that affects by the water scarcity. Some of them are changing cultivation pattern such as saturated soil culture, alternative wetting and drying and aerobic rice cultivation, rain water harvesting, soil moisture conservation practices and introduce Weather Forecast Systems. Further, in order to combat with the challenges created by climate change, it is necessary to identify potential adaptation and mitigation options and help local people understand which ones are most applicable to their particular circumstances and to implement that, should inform governments and communities and promote regional, national, local dialogue about the impacts of climate change and those possible solutions. Also, it should mainstream climate change responses in food and agricultural policies and programmes, e.g. provide support to include of adaptation measures in to National Programmes and planning processes. So through such programs, agricultural extension services also can play a better role to transferring the possible adaptation techniques towards farmers.
References:
Adger, W.N. (2004), Ecology and Society. Vol. 9(2)
United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change
Carriger, S. and Vallee D. (2007), More crop per drop, Rice Today (2007)
Dubey, S.K. (2001), Methane emission and rice agriculture, Curr Sci 81:345 -346
Punyawardena, B.V.R (2002), Climate change and food security. Abstract of the paper presented at the seminar on “National Climate Change Public Awareness, Information and Outreach in Sri Lanka
(http://www.meteo.gov.lk/Non_%20Up_Date/pages/ccinsl_1.htm)
Department of Meteorology, Sri Lanka. (On line) 26.07.2010
By
H.D.H. Fernando
Department of Agriculture Extension
Faculty Of Agriculture
University Of Peradeniya
