Monsoon brings mixed bag for districts

The Statesman, 3rd June, 2008

Trend analysis and projected scenarios reveal that under the impact on climate change nine districts of Orissa may receive more than normal rainfall while the remaining 21 will get less than normal rains.Though these findings are not exactly related to the ensuing monsoon, studies on impact of climate change indicate this trend said Mr AK Singh , deputy director ICAR and Mr DP Ray, vice chancellor of OUAT here today.Coastal Orissa districts as well as a few like Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi and Kandhamal are likely to get more than normal rainfall, they noted.The trend analysis and projected scenario reveal that rainfall in the state has been increasing annually, however, the increase is not uniform, they said.The pattern that comes out of these projections is that the state will receive 96 per cent of the rainfall during the first three months of June to August while September will be a dry spell. The experts have already prepared a few contingency plans keeping in view the climate changes that are taking place. These plans have been submitted to the state government. It will come in handy to agriculturists of the state. The contingencies relate to both heavy monsoon-flood related situations and dry spell or drought like situations."Orissa is not a dry land region yet its productivity is very much similar to dry land areas," said Mr Singh while emphasising on importance of water harvesting.The two discussed several areas related to climate change and its impact on agriculture which ranged from lower quality of rice production, reduced yield to the broader aspects of impact on livelihood and food security