Changing climate, agriculture, and food security in India

[HPS Kalra]

Dear all,

Policymakers in Punjab and Haryana - the food basket region of India,
that ensures for it we call food security - have been least concerned
about long-term climate change, extreme events and disasters. This can
be gauged from the fact that the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change’s 2011 SREX Report (Special Report on
Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate
Change Adaptation) has neither been taken note of adequately, nor
discussed at public forums. The full report and its summary for
policymakers are available on the Internet. A regional event was held
in New Delhi in May 2012 to discuss it but neither the press, nor the
academia, nor the policymakers have shown keen interest to see if the
agricultural policy, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, the states
that contribute most to the food security of the country, needs any
change or reform in the short, medium or long-term in the light of
SREX report. The central government of the country also cannot be
absolved of its
responsibilities in a transition phase where on the one hand we are
encouraging FDI in retail but basic food security concerns are not
given any priority. It is high time we put food security, and
agriculture production back on the public agenda, because the saying
‘everything else can wait but not agriculture’ is even more valid
today the before to ensure food security for the country.

HPS Kalra

[HPS Kalra]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: DG CCOST MM Hambarde <dgc...@gmail.com>
Date: 19 October 2012 23:29
Subject: Re: [SASCODIF] Changing climate, agriculture, and food
security in India

What have written is completely true but what exactly can be done to
bring the situation on proper track. Please suggest a course of action
to make these -------- (I was thinking to use an abusing word, but
----- ) aware and active regarding these aspects. It is not that they
do not listen to us but they are just not available to listen to us on
these matters. they are available for trash only. .

Mukund Hambarde
Director General
Chhattisgarh Council of Science & Technology,
MIG 25, Indravati Colony,Raipur (C.G.) 492 001
Ph: 0771 2434569; Fax: 2434093;
Mob. 9300028876, 7389487146
Other Email mukund....@gmail.com