Untimely snow in November this year followed by yet another dry spell of weather and night temperatures dropping below freezing times to an all time low of minus 6.8 degree celcius in last eleven years now in December are the indications of drastic changes in the climate of Kashmir. Snowless ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ for the second consecutive year will have obviously serious ramifications for the agriculture farming and horticulture industry in Kashmir valley . Last year, too, there was no major snowfall in the months of December and January but hailstorms and cloud bursts in North and South Kashmir areas hit the paddy fields and the apple orchards when the crops were in the ripening stage during summer months. The snowless winters, increased temperatures in the summer and changing rainfall patterns could adversely hit many climate-sensitive sectors of the economy like agriculture farming and horticulture industry which are the basis of livelihood, for a big chunk of population in Kashmir. Even naives believe that climate change is going to have a myriad of serious ramifications for the key economic sectors in Kashmir valley. Not much is being done by the government to address this issue of concern. Jammu and Kashmir State, being a mountainous region, needs micro-level scientific assessment at the district and village levels for effective planning and implementation of measures to combat climate change. For proper understanding and recording the local specific changes in climate, existing institutions and the available expertise must be involved since climate change is a multi-disciplinary and multifaceted area of concern. Government like a mute spectator does not respond to the challenges of climate change the time when people connected with the agriculture farming and apple industry are looking for technical guidance from the S K University of Agriculture Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) in Srinagar. So Government is not responding to the challenges the climate change is throwing to the survival of the agriculture farming and apple industry in Kashmir valley and the people connected with the agriculture farming and horticulture industry are not aware about the measures they need to sustain the production levels. Though agriculture experts have many a times in the recent years told the agriculture and horticulture departments of the state government that water availability in Kashmir is manageable if adequate assistance is extended to farmers for water storage by investing in water harvesting infrastructure but both the agriculture and horticulture department are yet to wake up from deep slumber.
A recent economic survey showing irrigation facilities available only to 41% of the agriculture land is sufficient enough for the government to respond to the crisis which is developed after two consecutive dry spells of winter and summer in last two years in Kashmir valley.
Though even naives understand that there is urgent need for an informed and long term strategy to optimally utilize our precious water resources in light of the changing climate and depleting cryo sphere (snow and glaciers) but the government does not understand it. A recent economic survey showing irrigation facilities available only to 41% of the agriculture land is sufficient enough for the government to respond to the crisis which is developing after two consecutive dry spells of winter and summer in last two years in Kashmir valley. Knowing that the lack of irrigation facilities is one of the main reason for the farmer farmers to selling off their prime agriculture and horticulture land to real estate builders in various parts of Kashmir valley it is the time for the government to respond to the challenges of climate change.
