Letter from Publisher
Dear Readers,
Monsoon patterns have changed in India as a result of climate change, which has caused temperatures to rise by 0.6 °C to 25.1 °C between 1901 and 2018. Government reports indicate that by 2100, temperature increases, variable rainfall, and reduced irrigation water availability will likely cause a 10–40 per cent decline in crop yield. Nearly 60 per cent of cropland is used for rain-fed or non irrigated crops, which will be the main targets of climate change effects. In India, the production of rain-fed wheat is expected to decrease by 0.45 tonnes per hectare for every 0.5°C increase in wintertime temperatures. According to the 2018, Government of India Economic Survey, the negative consequences of climate change cause an estimated $9–10 billion in losses annually. Considering the seriousness of the issue, the Government of India has been actively engaged with the stakeholders in promoting climate smart agriculture since 2011 and it resulted in an increase in yield of food crops in the last few years despite India facing deficient rainfall. We have covered an article on the measures taken by the government in terms of research and development and funding initiatives in the last decade and how the private sector has joined hands with the public sector in the last couple of years to help farmers double their income.
We also covered an article from an expert, who points out that precision agriculture, a key climate-smart innovation, employs advanced technologies and techniques to maximise resource efficiency and enhance crop yields. These technologies allow for targeted and efficient resource use, minimising waste and environmental impact and how precision farming will promote sustainability by reducing the ecological footprint of agricultural activities.
India currently witnesses a staggering loss of around 74 million tonnes of food annually, accounting for 10 per cent of combined food grain and horticulture output. The lack of adequate storage facilities exacerbates this issue, making the improvement of food security a primary objective of the grain storage initiative. To bolster India’s grain storage capacity by 700 lakh tonnes within the next five years, the Government of India unveiled the pilot initiative of the ambitious "World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector". Initially launched as a pilot programme, several states and territories are currently testing its efficacy. Our team has done an article on this issue after speaking with industry leaders as to how it will help both farmers and the country at large.
We have another interesting article from an expert from Sri Lanka who explains how Indian agri-tech companies are uniquely positioned to support Sri Lanka's agricultural transformation and also maintains that Indian agri-tech firms can provide a comprehensive suite of solutions aimed at enhancing productivity, sustainability, and profitability in Sri Lanka's agriculture sector.
I am sure you will find this edition a great read.