Climate emergency: Experts call for collaborative strategies to address challenges in horticulture

Hyderabad: Telangana Horticultural University, experts from meteorology, agriculture, and academia, called for an urgent need for collaborative strategies to address the growing challenges posed by climate change.

They were speaking at a national conference on the `Impact of Climate Change on Horticulture’ held at Sri Konda Laxman.

Climate Change Challenges Ahead

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Dr. Mrityunjaya Mahapatra warned that climate change would not only affect farmers and communities but also the IMD itself.

“Only by collectively adapting mitigation strategies can the impending climate change on human, agriculture, and horticulture sectors be saved,” he said.

He further noted, “Climate change would not only trouble the farmers and people but also the IMD, and we are moving forward with appropriate strategies.”

Support for Small Farmers

Dr. Mahapatra stressed the need to extend innovative support to farmers working in vulnerable areas.

“There is a need to provide innovative solutions to small and marginal farmers in remote areas to withstand the impact of these changes,” he said. He added that future approaches must be rooted in “global action and local production methods.”

Improving Forecast Accuracy

On the role of weather predictions, Dr. Mahapatra pointed out current limitations.

“Stating that the current weather forecasts were accurate only 40 to 50 percent, this forecast would be increased with multi-forecast models,” he said.

Focus on Nutritional Security

Agriculture Department Secretary M. Raghunandan Rao highlighted the broader national responsibility tied to agriculture and horticulture.

“There is a need to work for the nutritional security of the country besides coming up with appropriate policies for that,” he observed.

University’s Role in Climate Solutions

Telangana Horticultural University Vice Chancellor Dr. Danda Rajireddy said the institution would actively support farmers with scientific solutions.

“The University is ready to provide every possible technical and research-based solution to the farmers to reduce the impact of climate change on the horticulture sector,” he said.

Background

India is witnessing increasing climate variability, marked by erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events. These shifts are threatening agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods, particularly in the horticulture sector, which is sensitive to weather changes. National and state-level research institutions are now emphasizing not just productivity but also resilience and sustainability in farming systems.