India to counter global warming affects on wheat

NEW DELHI (Commodity Online) : As the globe warms up to the challenges posed by global warming, the Indian government is taking timely steps to counter its ill-effects on wheat cultivation and output.
This is despite any imminent threat perceived as such, reported Times of India.
Wheat production in India is on the rise and with 80.71 million tons in 2009-10 (as per 4th advance estimates, 2010) the produce contribute to 71% of total food grain production in the country. This output estimate is in contrast to 78.51 million tons in 2007-08.
However research findings of ICAR indicate that 3-4% of decrease in production occurs with 1 degree Celsius of temperature rise. This happens in the grain-filing stage.
The studies confirm that over a base period of 1961-1990; over India, mean annual surface air temperature has risen by 0.56 degree Celsius during 1901-2009 and the resultant figure is above normal since 1990.
North Eastern plain zone, Central zone and peninsular zone are likely to be subjected to terminal heat stress and this area forms 9 million hectares of wheat under cultivation out of the total 28 million hectares.
DBW 14, DBW 16, Raj 3765, Lok 1, GW 322 etc. form the heat tolerant varieties employed to counter the effects as posed by global warming. National Food Security Mission in wheat and Integrated Cereals Development Programme in Wheat have widely distributed these varieties.
The government also fills the role of advisory in wheat cultivation providing farmers, information on new technology in crop cultivation and protection.
This advice includes information on timely sowing along with resource conservation technology (including zero seed drill) and guidelines on irrigation to counter unexpected rise in temperature.
Thermal and drought tolerant genotypes also play their part to counter the adverse effects of changing climate.