IamAJober: 12. Critically examine the impact of climate change on dry land agriculture in Telangana and suggest climate-resilient technologies to protect rain-fed cropping systems. తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్రంలోని మెట్ట ప్రాంత వ్యవసాయంపై వాతావరణ మార్పుల ప్రభావాన్ని విమర్శనాత్మకంగా పరిశీలించండి మరియు వర్షాధార పంటల వ్యవస్థలను రక్షించడానికి వాతావరణ మార్పులకు తట్టుకొనే సాంకేతిక పరిజ్ఞానాన్ని సూచించండి.

Question 12: Critically examine the impact of climate change on dry land agriculture in Telangana and suggest climate-resilient technologies to protect rain-fed cropping systems.
Word Limit: ~1000 | Language: English
Summary: In Telugu | Memory Tricks: At the End

Introduction

Telangana, located in the semi-arid Deccan plateau, has nearly 60–65% of its net sown area under rain-fed conditions, making dryland agriculture the backbone of its agrarian economy. However, climate change has emerged as a critical threat, impacting the agro-ecological balance, productivity, and rural livelihoods.

I. Impact of Climate Change on Dryland Agriculture in Telangana

1. Erratic Rainfall Patterns

Delayed monsoons and shortened rainy seasons reduce the length of the growing period.
Sudden heavy downpours lead to runoff and poor soil moisture retention.
Intermittent dry spells during crop growth stages cause crop stress and reduced yields.

2. Rising Temperatures

Average temperatures in Telangana are increasing by 0.4–0.6°C per decade.
Leads to increased evapotranspiration, affecting crops like cotton, red gram, and jowar.
Heat stress during flowering stages reduces grain filling and pollination.

3. Soil Degradation

Increased soil erosion due to intense rains.
Loss of topsoil and organic matter, especially on undulating metta (upland) lands.
Leads to declining soil fertility and productivity.

4. Groundwater Stress

Groundwater recharge is poor in shallow soils due to fast runoff.
Borewells run dry more often, limiting supplemental irrigation.
Dryland farmers depend heavily on unpredictable rainfall.

5. Pest and Disease Incidence

Changes in climate have led to new pest outbreaks (e.g., pink bollworm in cotton).
Longer warm periods favor insect breeding cycles.
Farmers incur more expenditure on pesticides, reducing profit margins.

6. Impact on Livelihoods

Lower and uncertain incomes from agriculture.
Distress migration to urban centers.
Higher debt burden, especially among small and marginal farmers.

II. Climate-Resilient Technologies for Rain-fed Cropping Systems

1. Soil and Water Conservation Techniques

Contour bunding, check dams, and farm ponds to improve rainwater harvesting.
In-situ moisture conservation through ridges and furrows, broad bed furrow systems.
Use of organic mulching to reduce evaporation.

2. Drought-Resistant Crop Varieties

Promote varieties of:
- Jowar (e.g., CSV-20),
- Bajra, Redgram, Horse gram, and
- Cotton that mature early and withstand dry spells.
Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) develops climate-resilient seeds.

3. Crop Diversification

Shift from water-intensive paddy to millets, pulses, and oilseeds.
Intercropping of Redgram with Cotton, or Castor with Groundnut to spread risk.

4. Agroforestry

Integrate trees (Neem, Pongamia, Subabul) with crops to:
- Stabilize soil,
- Provide shade and fodder,
- Improve micro-climate resilience.

5. Weather-Based Crop Advisory

Use of Mobile Apps (e.g., Rythu Nestham) and SMS alerts to inform farmers about:
- Weather forecasts,
- Pest outbreaks,
- Crop management practices.

6. Climate-Smart Irrigation

Micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler) under PMKSY reduces water wastage.
Use of solar-powered pumps for eco-friendly irrigation.

7. Promotion of Traditional Knowledge

Encourage native cropping practices, sacred groves, and organic manures.
Emphasis on zai pits, rain-fed seed banks, and community-managed grain reserves.

8. Capacity Building and Farmer Education

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for hands-on training.
Promote climate literacy, risk coping, and financial literacy.

9. Insurance and Financial Safety Nets

Promote coverage under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
Encourage weather-indexed insurance for drought-prone districts.

III. Government Policies and Institutional Support

Mission Kakatiya: Restoring tanks for decentralized water storage.
Rythu Bandhu: Income support scheme to reduce climate-related financial stress.
Telangana Ku Haritha Haram: Plantation drive to improve green cover and combat desertification.
District Agro-Climatic Plans: Customizing farming practices based on local climate zones.

IV. Challenges in Implementation

Low awareness among farmers about climate-resilient practices.
Fragmented landholdings limit mechanization and innovation.
Delays in crop insurance payments and lack of proper extension services.
Need for decentralized climate data and localized forecasting models.

Conclusion

Dryland agriculture in Telangana stands at a critical juncture. Climate change has amplified vulnerabilities in rain-fed regions through erratic weather, poor soil health, and fragile farmer incomes. However, science-based, indigenous, and policy-driven interventions can make the system resilient. A synergy of farmer participation, technology, and institutional support is essential to safeguard the backbone of Telangana’s rural economy.

Summary in Telugu (సంగ్రహం)

తెలంగాణలో మెట్ట భూముల్లో వర్షాధార వ్యవసాయం ప్రాధాన్యత కలిగివుంది. కానీ వాతావరణ మార్పుల వల్ల:

వర్షపాతం అసమతుల్యం,
ఉష్ణోగ్రతలు పెరగడం,
నేల ఆర్ధ్రత తగ్గిపోవడం,
తెగుళ్లు పెరగడం వంటి సమస్యలు ఉత్పన్నమవుతున్నాయి.

వీటిని ఎదుర్కొనే సాంకేతిక పరిష్కారాలు:

నీటి సంరక్షణ (Farm Ponds, Check Dams),
ఒంటరిగా నిలబడే విత్తనాలు (Early Maturing Crops),
మల్టీక్రాపింగ్, అగ్రో ఫారెస్ట్రీ,
వాతావరణ ఆధారిత హెచ్చరికలు,
PMKSY మైక్రో ఇరిగేషన్,
PMFBY పంట బీమా,
రైతు విద్య మరియు అనుసంధాన సంస్థలు.

ఇవన్నీ కలిపి వ్యవసాయాన్ని వాతావరణ మార్పుల పట్ల తట్టుకొనేలా మారుస్తాయి.

Memory Tricks (SMART Code for Recall)

Use the mnemonic "DRY-SMART" to remember key points:

D – Drought-tolerant varieties
R – Rainwater harvesting
Y – Yield protection (Insurance)
S – Soil conservation (bunding, mulching)
M – Micro-irrigation (drip, sprinkler)
A – Agroforestry systems
R – Resilient cropping (diversification)
T – Technology (weather alerts, apps)

If you want a PDF version, Telugu narration, or animated explainer, let me know — I’ll prepare them to help you revise faster, Madhu gaaru.

Deep

## Critical Examination of Climate Change Impacts on Dryland Agriculture in Telangana and Climate-Resilient Technologies

Telangana's agriculture is predominantly **rain-fed**, with approximately **63% of cultivated area** dependent on monsoon rainfall, making it highly vulnerable to climate change . Dryland agriculture supports a significant portion of the state's rural population but faces systemic threats from increasing climatic variability.

### Critical Examination of Climate Change Impacts

1. **Increased Rainfall Variability and Drought Frequency**:

- Telangana experiences **high monsoon dependency** with increasing irregularity. Historical data shows decreasing rainfall trends in key regions like Vidarbha and East Madhya Pradesh, which share climatic similarities with Telangana .

- Projections indicate **more frequent mid-season dry spells** and **terminal droughts**, directly affecting the critical growth stages of rain-fed crops like millets, pulses, and oilseeds. For instance, droughts cause yield reductions of **~43% in sorghum** and **~34% in groundnut** .

- The shortening of the **Length of Growing Period (LGP)** reduces cropping windows, forcing farmers to opt for low-risk, low-yield crops .

2. **Rising Temperatures and Heat Stress**:

- By mid-century, Telangana could see **temperature increases of 2.5–4.9°C**, leading to **heat stress during rabi season**. This reduces wheat yields by **41–52%** and rice by **32–40%** .

- High temperatures accelerate **soil moisture evaporation** and increase crop water requirements by **10–15%**, worsening water scarcity in already arid regions .

3. **Soil Degradation and Fertility Loss**:

- Erratic rainfall intensifies **topsoil erosion**, while continuous cultivation depletes soil organic carbon. Telangana's drylands suffer from **nutrient-deficient soils** (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), reducing baseline productivity .

- Studies note **soil crusting** and **compaction** as major constraints, limiting root growth and water infiltration .

4. **Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities**:

- **Small landholdings** (76% of farmers are marginal) limit investment capacity. Climate risks exacerbate **debt cycles** and reduce market participation, with **59% of cotton farmers** facing crop loss-related income declines .

- **Migration** from rural areas has increased due to recurrent crop failures, destabilizing agrarian communities .

*Table: Climate Projections for Telangana-Similar Regions*

|---------------------|------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------------|

| CO2 Concentration | 400 ppm | 550 ppm | Limited gains for legumes |

### Climate-Resilient Technologies for Rain-Fed Systems

**1. Natural Resource Management (NRM) Interventions**:

- **In Situ Moisture Conservation**: Techniques like **contour bunding**, **trenching**, and **deep ploughing** enhance water infiltration and reduce runoff. In Suryapet and Khammam, these practices boosted soil moisture by **20–30%**, supporting crop growth during dry spells .

- **Rainwater Harvesting**: Building **farm ponds** and **check dams** captures high-intensity rainfall. This provides supplemental irrigation, mitigating yield losses by **15–20%** during droughts .

**2. Crop-Centric Adaptations**:

- **Diversification with Legumes**: Integrating drought-tolerant pulses (e.g., pigeon pea, chickpea) improves soil nitrogen and spreads economic risk. In Zimbabwean drylands (similar to Telangana), legume diversification **reduced vulnerability by 30%** for smallholders .

- **Resilient Crop Varieties**: Short-duration, heat-tolerant paddy (e.g., DRR 44) and millet varieties (e.g., WGF 565) cut losses from terminal heat. Telangana farmers adopting these saw **yield gains of 15–25%** .

**3. Livestock Integration**:

- **Improved Backyard Poultry and Goats**: Drought-resistant breeds (e.g., Vanaraja poultry) provide alternative income during crop failures. NICRA projects reported **high adoption rates** of these systems in Telangana for risk dispersion .

- **Deworming and Health Management**: Reduced livestock mortality by **10–15%**, ensuring draft power and manure for crops .

**4. Institutional and Infrastructural Support**:

- **Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs)**: Enable smallholders to access **resilience-enhancing equipment** (e.g., zero-till seed drills) at low cost. These are highly adopted in NICRA villages for timely operations .

- **Agro-Advisory Services**: ICT-based weather forecasts and market alerts help farmers avoid climate risks. Coupled with **village seed banks**, they enhance local capacity .

*Table: Adoption Factors for Climate-Resilient Technologies*

|------------------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|

### Implementation Challenges and Recommendations

- **Awareness Gaps**: Only **~40% of farmers** in Telangana use weather forecasts. *Recommendation*: Scale up participatory training via KVKs and farmer producer organizations (FPOs) .

- **Resource Limitations**: Smallholders lack funds for resilient seeds or ponds. *Recommendation*: Integrate CRA subsidies into state schemes like Rythu Bandhu and promote microfinance .

- **Policy Integration**: Prioritize **SDG-focused planning** (e.g., NICRA’s links to SDGs 1, 2, 13). State policies should incentivize legume cultivation and CHCs .

### Conclusion

Climate change threatens Telangana’s dryland agriculture through **water scarcity**, **heat stress**, and **soil degradation**, intensifying socio-economic vulnerabilities. Proven technologies like *in situ moisture conservation*, *crop diversification*, and *livestock integration* can enhance resilience if supported by institutional mechanisms. Success requires **co-developed strategies** (farmers-researchers-policymakers) tailored to local needs, as demonstrated by NICRA’s participatory approach. Immediate scaling of these innovations is vital to safeguard rain-fed systems and achieve sustainable development goals.

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### తెలంగాణలో వాతావరణ మార్పుల ప్రభావం మరియు సూచనల సారాంశం (Summary in Telugu)

**ప్రధాన ప్రభావాలు**:

- వర్షపాతం అనిశ్చితంగా మారడం, ఎడారుల కారణంగా ప్రధాన పంటలైన జొన్న, నువ్వుల దిగుబడి **40-50%** తగ్గుతుంది .

- ఉష్ణోగ్రతలు పెరగడం వల్ల **రబీ పంటలు** (గోధుమ) బాధపడతాయి; నీటి అవసరం **10-15%** పెరుగుతుంది .

- నేల సారం కోల్పోవడం, మట్టి కోతలు చెలామార్లుగా ఎదురవుతున్న సవాళ్లు .

**సాంకేతిక పరిజ్ఞానం**:

- **నీటి పరిరక్షణ**: కంటూరు బండింగ్, ఫార్మ్ పాండ్లు - మట్టి తేమ **20-30%** పెంచుతాయి .

- **పంట వివిధీకరణ**: బాత్తు, మినుము వంటి పప్పు పంటలతో డైవర్సిఫికేషన్ - నేల సారాన్ని పెంచి, నష్టాలను తగ్గిస్తుంది .

- **వ్యవస్థాబద్ధమైన మద్దతు**: విత్తన బ్యాంకులు, కస్టమ్ హయిరింగ్ కేంద్రాల ద్వారా సాధికారత .

**అమలు సూచనలు**:

- రైతులకు వాతావరణ సమాచారం, సాధనాలను అందించడానికి **గ్రామ స్థాయి శిక్షణ** మరింత పెంచాలి.

- రైతు బంధు, రైతు భీమా పథకాలలో **వాతావరణ సహన పద్ధతులకు ప్రోత్సాహకాలు** ఇంటిగ్రేట్ చేయాలి.

### మనసులో ఉంచుకోవడానికి ట్రిక్స్ (Tricks to Remember)

**"CRAB"** అక్రోనిం:

- **C** - Crop Diversification (పంట వివిధీకరణ)

- **R** - Rainwater Harvesting (వర్షపు నీటి సేకరణ)

- **A** - Agro-advisories (వ్యవసాయ సలహాలు)

- **B** - Breeding for Resilience (సహన పశు/పంట జాతులు)

**"DRY TEL"** (Dryland Telangana):

- **D** - Drought-tolerant crops (ఎండకు తట్టే పంటలు)

- **R** - Resource conservation (వనరుల పరిరక్షణ)

- **Y** - Yield insurance (దిగుబడి బీమా)

- **T** - Technology access (సాంకేతిక ప్రాప్యత)

- **E** - Extension services (వ్యాప్తి సేవలు)

- **L** - Legume integration (పప్పు పంటల ఏకీకరణ)

IamAJober

Friday, July 11, 2025