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Western Ghats: Climate Shift Fuels Agricultural Boom
4 Nov
Summary
- Karnataka's temperatures rose by 1.5°C, increasing rainfall and agricultural land.
- Annual rainfall increased to 1,218 mm in recent decades, boosting crop yields.
- Increased monsoon clouds are reaching interior Karnataka, expanding farmland.
Agrometeorologist M.B. Raje Gowda has proposed modifications to the Kasturirangan report, advocating for the continuation of micro-projects and developmental activities within the Western Ghats region. He noted that while the committee provided social development data, it lacked qualitative climate change information for the Ghats and the state.
His research indicates substantial climate shifts in Karnataka. Between 1900 and 2020, average temperatures rose by up to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall increased from 1,140 mm (1900-1950) to 1,218 mm (1980-2020), though coastal and western hilly areas saw a slight decrease. Interior districts experienced significant increases in monsoon rainfall.
These climatic changes have positively impacted Karnataka's agriculture. Agricultural land expanded to 1 lakh hectares by 2020 from 40-50 lakh hectares in the 1950s, and production surged from 4-5 million tonnes to 13 million tonnes. This is partly due to monsoon clouds increasingly precipitating over interior Karnataka after crossing the Western Ghats.
