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Scientists predict ‘less rainfall’

BHUBANESWAR: Scientists at the Orissa University of Agriculture Technology have predicted “less rainfall” in 21 districts of the State due to the impact of climate change while grain yield of rice would decrease by 9 per cent by 2020.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of a workshop here on Monday, OUAT Vice-Chancellor D. P Ray said trend analysis suggested that six coastal districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri and Nayagarh, interior districts of Mayurbhanj and Kandhamal and possibly one western district of Kalahandi were expected to receive more rainfall.

“All other districts would get less rainfall,”he said.

Among “more likely” impacts of climate change in the State, late monsoon onset and more pre-monsoon rainfall, increased day and night temperature in all the months except July, extended summer up to June and increased risk of drought and flood during monsoon had been predicted.

The OUAT Vice-Chancellor apprehend that there could be increased risk of soil damage and erosion due to soil wetness, water-logging and flooding.

Similarly, higher pest incidence such as increasing infestation of rice crop by swarming caterpillar, hispa, stem borer and bacterial leaf blight could also take place, he said.

The university suggested newer crop varieties, which would be resistant to alternating temperature regimes and warm winters, improved rice varieties resistant to flash floods in low lands, salinity-tolerant rice varieties in coastal areas should be adopted.

Preventive measures for drought that includes on-farm reservoirs in medium lands, growing of pulses and oilseeds instead of rice in uplands, ridges and furrow system in cotton, growing of intercrops in place of pure crops in uplands and land grading and levelling should be taken up, Mr. Ray said.

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