The year 2030 – let’s call it the
target year.
The target – to adequately adapt
to a changing climate and a changing landscape.
Why 2030?
By then the world’s sea levels
are expected to rise by about 1.37 meters. Today around 100 million people around
the world live within 1 meter of the sea levels. This is number will only
increase in the next couple of years.
The rising seas will pose a
variety of problems both at the micro as well as the macro level. Resettlement of the displaced population,
ensuring and maintaining adequate security, law and order, disaster control
etc. would challenge every government on the face of the earth. But the one
problem that would most likely suffocate these governments into giving up is
food security. You can read more about
this in my book ‘Wake up Mangalore… or be damned!’
I was raised in a small coastal
city surrounded by lush green paddy fields and coconut plantations. But today,
I can hardly see this greenery. This is
the case in most countries – wherein the lucrative real estate rates are
persuading farmers into selling their fertile agricultural land. The advent of
technology however has kept the demand and supply gap more or less within
controllable limits. But with an unpredictable weather looming large, soil
patterns constantly changing and water availability fast decreasing – keeping
this gap small is a challenge.
But we need not panic, as we have
plenty of solutions at hand. The only thing that needs to change is our proactiveness
in implementing them.
One such solution is
agroforestry.
Agroforestry can be defined as
the integration of crops and livestock systems with trees. If implemented
scientifically it has the potential to allow the farmer to increase the
efficiency of land use, boost yields and also help in increasing the ever
decreasing carbon sink.
For a farmer – agroforestry has
tremendous benefits. On farm trees (the
right kind) help replenish nutrient deficient soil. This eliminates the
necessity to use chemical fertilizers. These trees may also bear fruit that can
be used locally and sold – adding to the farmer’s revenue. These trees may also
provide fodder for the livestock reducing fodder costs. In total it is a
win-win situation for a farmer.
Sadly, I have no agricultural land
except for a small back yard. What much can I do?
Don’t get disheartened and give
up! There is a lot we can do!
To begin with, plant a few
indigenous fruit trees in your yard. Consider this as an investment you are
making for your children. You could also invest in agroforestry schemes and
contribute to NGOs undertaking such missions. Remember the biggest challenge
our children will face is finding adequate quantity of nutritious food. And we
have a golden opportunity here. Let’s not let this one pass!