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Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

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<strong>Revitalization</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> In <strong>India</strong><br />

<strong>Draft</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> Recommendation<br />

differences were evident. At the same time, ra<strong>in</strong>fall dur<strong>in</strong>g the monsoon season<br />

was <strong>in</strong> deficit <strong>in</strong> recent years like 1987, 2002 and 2009 which adversely affected<br />

the food gra<strong>in</strong> production <strong>in</strong> <strong>India</strong>. In the case <strong>of</strong> thermo-sensitive crops like<br />

tea, c<strong>of</strong>fee, cardamom, cocoa, cashew and black pepper, the projected <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>of</strong><br />

2–3°C <strong>in</strong> temperature may directly affect the cropped area and productivity. The<br />

observations on mango and cashew flower<strong>in</strong>g also <strong>in</strong>dicated that <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> night<br />

temperature dur<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ter is a concern as seen <strong>in</strong> 2010. The coconut productivity<br />

<strong>in</strong> Kerala is likely to decl<strong>in</strong>e under the projected climate change scenario as the<br />

occurrence <strong>of</strong> floods and summer droughts is likely to affect the crop adversely,<br />

and frequency <strong>of</strong> their occurrence is likely to <strong>in</strong>crease under the projected<br />

climate change scenario. Therefore, proactive technologies need to be developed<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st global warm<strong>in</strong>g and climate change for sustenance <strong>of</strong> crop production <strong>in</strong><br />

horticulture as a part <strong>of</strong> “climate resilient horticulture”. 44<br />

Overall, the impact <strong>of</strong> global warm<strong>in</strong>g, change <strong>of</strong> seasonal patterns, excessive<br />

ra<strong>in</strong>, melt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the ice cap, flood, ris<strong>in</strong>g sea level, drought, poll<strong>in</strong>ation cycle, fruit<br />

ripen<strong>in</strong>g, etc. lead<strong>in</strong>g to an extremity <strong>of</strong> all k<strong>in</strong>ds, is likely to br<strong>in</strong>g about a change<br />

<strong>in</strong> the vegetable crops, spices, flower<strong>in</strong>g and fruit<strong>in</strong>g trees.<br />

Adopt<strong>in</strong>g conservation agriculture, us<strong>in</strong>g renewable energy, forest and water<br />

conservation, reforestation, etc. to susta<strong>in</strong> the productivity, modification <strong>of</strong><br />

present horticultural practices and greater use <strong>of</strong> greenhouse technology are some<br />

<strong>of</strong> the solutions to m<strong>in</strong>imize the effect <strong>of</strong> climate change. Development <strong>of</strong> new<br />

cultivars <strong>of</strong> horticultural crops tolerant to high temperature, resistant to pests<br />

and diseases, short duration and produc<strong>in</strong>g good yield under stress conditions,<br />

as well as adoption <strong>of</strong> hi-tech horticulture and judicious management <strong>of</strong> land use<br />

resources will be the ma<strong>in</strong> strategies to meet these challenges. 45<br />

5. TREE – WATER – CLIMATE NEXUS<br />

Tree – Water Nexus<br />

Food for all liv<strong>in</strong>g organisms orig<strong>in</strong>ates from trees and other members <strong>in</strong> the<br />

plant k<strong>in</strong>gdom. Every s<strong>in</strong>gle organism depends directly or <strong>in</strong>directly on trees for<br />

their survival. Trees not only provide food for other organisms, but also shelter<br />

and give protection to many different types <strong>of</strong> organisms <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g humans. In<br />

Annexures<br />

387

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