Association of Agrometeorologists

Impact of climate change on agriculture in Karnataka

M. B. RAJEGOWDA, B.T. RAVINDRA BABU, N.A. JANARDHANAGOWDA, and K.S. MURALIDHARA

Karnatakastateis havingthesecond largest rainfed agricultural areaintheCountryand food production ismainlydependingon thesouth-westmonsoon.TheState’smeanannual rainfall isfoundtobeindecreasingtrendalongwithitssixteenyearscyclicperiodicity. TheStatefirst half century’s (1901-1950) normal of 1204mmhas been reducedto 1140mmduringsecond half of thecentury (1951- 2000).Nevertheless, fewdistricts likeBengaluru,KolarandTumkuraregainingintheirmeanannual rainfall andsometraditionallyheavy rainfall receivingdistricts likeKodagu,ChikmagalurandSouthCanaraareloosingintheirmeanannual rainfall.Theeasterndistricts of the state are tending to be more dependent on North East monsoon than terminal rains of the South West monsoon. Consequently individual crop growing area, growing period are changing. The normal sowing season rains are being delayed due to the shift of July rains to theAugustmonth andSeptember peak rainfall is being shifted toOctobermonth. Themaximumwater available period for the grand growth period is shifting towards the end of September and beginning ofOctober inmany districts. Fingermillet crop area (main food crop of southern Karnataka) in Chikmagalur district, Groundnut area in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts, Red gramin Bidar and Gulbarga districts is increasing.Where as, Groundnut area in Belgaum and Gulbarga districts and Red gram area in Belgam and Tumkurisdecreasing.

Climatechange,rainfall,productivity,globalwarming