Influence of Climate Change on Aromatic Basmati Rice

Climate change is posing a serious challenge for sustainable agricultural development and is likely to affect our food security in the future. Simulation studies have shown that the rise in temperature and high CO 2 concentration is likely to reduce aromatic Basmati rice yield and also affect its aroma. The projected increase in rainfall in the Basmati-growing areas of India and Pakistan is expected to have a beneficial effect; however, erratic rainfall may cause floods and droughts, negatively impacting Basmati production. As the reduction in GHG emissions from rice fields (methane and nitrous oxide) can be achieved only to a limited extent, we have to rely more on adaptation measures to combat climate change, which include breeding Basmati rice varieties for high temperature-, drought- and flood-tolerance, and pest and disease resistance. Some efforts have been made in this direction, but more is needed. For the reduction in methane emissions, direct-seeded rice and alternate wetting and drying technologies are being promoted and are being adopted by farmers to some extent. To reduce the emissions from crop residue burning, zero-till and no-burn technologies are being used. Following appropriate adaptation options, resource-conserving and energy-saving technologies are likely to help farmers overcome adverse effects in the future. However, scaling it up further would require greater support from all stakeholders, including the government and other agencies.