Innovation of newer ways, technologies and stress tolerant crop varieties through continuous research
works can keep agro-productions increasing for ensuring food security amid adverse climate change
impacts.
The deteriorating rate of climate change cannot be reduced overnight and positive results of the
proposed global efforts might start improving the situation very slowly in course of times, but agro-
productions must be kept continued and increasing.
Experts, researchers and scientists expressed these views and put maximum emphasis on innovation of
newer ways and technologies for cultivation of stress tolerance crops and popularise those among the
farmers.
Executive Director of North Bengal Institute of Development Studies Dr Syed Samsuzzaman said adverse
climate change impacts have already affected agriculture, irrigation, navigation, ecology, bio-diversity,
environment and underground water levels.
As a result, rainfalls, floods, cyclones, droughts, cold and hot spells, sea and surface warming, water
contamination, water and soil salinity, aquatic systems, silting and drying up of rivers, lowering of
underground water levels are being affected.
The situation degrades faster because of melting ice due to temperature rise following huge emission of
the Green House Gases like Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Hydro-flouro-carbons, Per-flouro-
carbons, SulphurHexa-fluoride etc, he added.
Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid blamed the
industrialised nations for degrading climate and their inadequate steps to save the most affected poorer
nations from the possible man-made catastrophes in future.
Former Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Mamunur Rashid said the degrading
situation might cause severe natural imbalance reducing agro-production to such a level that would not
be enough to feed growing global population.
Noted environmentalist and Consultant of International Rice Research Institute in Bangladesh Dr MG
Neogi narrated chronological background that triggered to climate change and its adverse impacts on
global agriculture and other sectors.
The adverse climate change impacts might be unthinkable, so severe and million times worse than those
experienced so far and theagri-sector might be collapsed, and so why, the global communities should
take the matter most seriously, he said.
The experts said the drying and silting up of the rivers and lowering of underground water levels due
to huge water lifting forBoro farming and complete drying up of dozens of rivers and tributaries have
further added to the degrading situation in the country.
The climate change has changed period of appearance of different seasons including crop farming
periods causing concern to the agriculture sector that might suffer further and severe set back in course
of times, they elaborated.
They said navigation has been remaining affected almost throughout the country for the past few
decades following drying and silting up of the rivers and emergence of shoals on their beds much ahead
of the dry seasons.
To keep agro-production increasing amid degrading climatic situation, there is no alternative to
innovating newer technologies, ways and stress tolerant crops for cultivating those in all seasons to
attain sustainable food security, they said. –BSS, Rangpur
