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Climate change blues: ‘everyday monsoon’ foxes Mizo farmers

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Climate change blues: ‘everyday monsoon’ foxes Mizo farmers

By Dinesh C Sharma

Changing rainfall pattern, rising temperatures force farmers to switch from traditional farming to growing exotic, heat resistant crops

Aizawl: As the debate continues on connection of climate change with growing intensity of hurricanes like Harvey and Irma, the phenomenon is already becoming a ground reality for scores of farmers in the north eastern hill state of Mizoram. Changing rainfall pattern and rising temperatures are forcing them to move away from traditional farming and to grow exotic crops that are heat-resistant and can survive erratic rains.

This year has been particularly bad. There has not been a single day when it has not rained. “Farmers are completely confused. They don’t know whether it was early monsoon or it is ‘everyday monsoon’. All important dates on the agriculture calendar have been missed,” pointed out Dr James Lalnunzira Hrahsel, a scientist with the Mizoram State Climate Change Cell.

Data of the past thirty years shows a rise in average temperature of Aizawl in the month of January. The lowest maximum was 18.7 degree in 1992 while the highest was 28.2 degree in 2005. This January it was 26.3 degree. On the other hand, minimum temperature in January has dipped. The difference between daily minimum and maximum temperature has been widening. The maximum and minimum temperatures in July also have seen a similar trend.

The rainfall pattern has changed so drastically that farmers are left clueless. The dates for burning jhums (shifting cultivation) had to be shifted twice this year due to rains. While there is an increasing trend in monsoon rainfall, there is decrease in post-monsoon rainfall and winter rainfall. Heavy precipitation events have gone up.

“The rainfall pattern in Mizoram has traditionally been so nuanced that Mizo language has different names for rain during different months, like To ruah (for April-May rains), Ruah Bing (for June-July rains), Ruah var pui (September rains), Ai Ruah (for October rains), Pawl del Ruah (December rains) etc. Even wind patterns have unique names – Vahtlao thli (February winds), Pa-sawntlung thli (March to May) and Pa leng thli (July winds) etc.,” explained Dr Lalrokima Chenkual, a disaster management expert with the Administrative Training Institute.

“But nowadays, it is difficult to distinguish one rain or wind from another,” said Dr Chenkual.

All this is directly affecting farming communities. “Earlier farmers could grow a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Now they are approaching us to help them with new crops and varieties that can withstand changing climate. That’s why we have introduced dragon fruit from Thailand, new cabbage variety from China and two tomato varieties from Bangalore,” Henry L Varte, horticulture extension officer, told India Science Wire.

Dragon fruit is a cactus that can grow in warm and humid climate, needs less water and its fruits have high commercial value. As dragon fruit is climbing cacti, concrete pillars are erected to train the vine and on the top old tyres are used. “Dragon fruit cultivation is helping famers to adapt to rising temperature and erratic rainfall, while protecting their incomes,” said Varte. Similarly the cabbage variety imported from China is heat-resistant. Two tomato varieties – Araka Smrat and Araka Rakshak – developed by the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Horticulture Institute can withstand high temperatures and are disease-resistant.

“Earlier I used grow oranges from seedlings imported from Israel, but pest attacks started due to heat and the yield dropped. Then I planted area nut. Last year I shifted to dragon fruit and have harvested 20 quintals of fruits this year. The market for this fruit is good, each fruit of about half a kilo sells for about Rs 100 to Rs 150,” said Zoramthanga, a dragon fruit farmer from Viapuanpho village in Mamit district.

Saurabh Sharma, state nodal officer for climate change, said adaptation had become necessary as districts in the state face ‘moderate to high’ vulnerability to climate change in terms of agriculture, forestry and water sector. The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change is funding a three-year project to augment livelihood of rural communities by building resilience in agriculture in four districts – Aizawl, Mamit, Kolasib, Serchhip.

“The idea is to develop one climate resilient village in each district so that they can serve as model for the rest,” Sharma explained while speaking at a media workshop. Pradeep Chettri from Directorate of Agriculture (Crop Husbandry) said pilot projects were underway in three agro-climatic zones – humid mild tropical zone, humid sub-tropical hill zone and humid temperate sub-alpine zone- to increase tolerance and suitability of crops to climate change.

The media workshop was organized by the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with Mizoram State Climate Change Cell; Directorate of Science and Technology and Centre for Media Studies.

(This article is from a syndicated feed provided by the India Science Wire)

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PM Modi slams Congress, SP for stance on CAA, says nobody can remove

PM Modi today addressed a rally Lalganj, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, where he said nobody can remove CAA

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, May 16, attacked the opposition for allegedly trying to spark violence by disseminating false information over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He continued by saying that citizenship under the CAA is now being granted by the country.

The prime minister claimed no one can do it, despite the INDI alliance members claims that they will remove CAA. Get real-time updates about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

PM Modi said, on the CAA issue, political parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party propagate false information. They made every effort to ignite riots and burn the entire nation, including UP, the PM added. Members of this INDI alliance still maintain that Modi introduced the CAA and that it will be removed the day he leaves the office.

Challenging the opposition, PM said, Desh mein koi maai ka laal paida hua hai jo CAA hata sake? (has anyone been born in this country who has the ability to repeal the CAA?) No one is able to remove CAA, he said. Addressing the rally in Lalganj, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said, they tried to do votebank politics under the guise of fake secularism, and they made Hindus and Muslims fight against each other.

Under the CAA, the process of giving citizenship certificate to refugees has already begun, the PM added. These are the individuals who have long been residents of the county as refugees and who suffered from the country’s religiously motivated division, PM Modi continued.

Additionally, PM Modi alleged that the Congress was ignoring these refugees.

Under the mask of CAA, the Congress and the SP attempted to spread misinformation. They tried to create disturbances in Uttar Pradesh and all across the country, he claimed.

PM Modi added that the enthusiasm displayed by Srinagar voters during the polls is evidence that nobody can reinstate Article 370 and engage in vote-bank politics.

Congress and Samajwadi Party wanted to split the national budget and give 15% to minorities, PM Modi said.

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Swati Maliwal case: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal refuses to answer, Akhilesh Yadav says other issues are more important

Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal was assaulted by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Personal Secretary Bibhav Kumar

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refused to comment about AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal’s assault case during a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow today. On Monday, May 13, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal allegedly suffered an assault by Kejriwal’s personal secretary Bibhav Kumar.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who was attending the press conference along with AAP leader Sanjay Singh and Kejriwal, said there are other issues that are more important than this.

Kejriwal, who was seated between Akhilesh Yadav and Sanjay Singh, continued to avoid questions on the assault case. Sanjay Singh then asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on several topics, including the ethnic violence in Manipur.

When asked about the Swati Maliwal situation, AAP MP Sanjay Singh took a defensive posture throughout the press conference. He said that he had already given the required reaction to the issue and emphasized that the situation should not be used for political advantage.

Singh restated that the AAP operates as a unified entity. During the summit, he also expressed worries on the situation in Manipur.

The AAP MP said, after witnessing what occurred in Manipur, the entire nation was in pain, yet PM Modi remained silent on the matter. Thousands of women were raped by Prajwal Revanna, while PM Modi was pleading for Prajwal Revanna’s support. The officials physically assaulted DCW chief Swati Maliwal during our wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar. PM Modi said nothing about these problems. Our family, AAP, has made a very clear statement. All these points he raised should have answers from the BJP and PM Modi. On Swati Maliwal’s issue, politics should not be engaged, Sanjay Singh added.

Meanwhile, days after the party threatened to take strict action against him, Bibhav Kumar was seen earlier on Wednesday night at the Lucknow airport with Sanjay Singh and the AAP national convener.

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Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri announces retirement, to play last match for India on June 6

India is currently trailing leaders Qatar by four points in Group A.

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Legendary Indian football player Sunil Chhetri announced on Thursday that he will be retiring from international football following the June 6 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Kolkata against Kuwait, capping off an incredible two-decade career.

The veteran captain of the national team made his announcement in a video that he shared on social media. India is currently trailing leaders Qatar by four points in Group A.

Chhetri said, looking back on the past 19 years is a mixture of duty, pressure and extreme happiness. He said, he had never imagined that he would play so many games for the country, whether they were good or bad, but during the past two and a half months, he has. And that was a pretty strange feeling. He then though he was coming toward the conclusion that this match (against Kuwait) would be his last, Chhetri remarked.

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has had a spectacular career spanning more than 20 years. This talented forward has made a name for himself both on the international stage and in domestic competitions. Chhetri will play his final game at the same place where he made his India debut 19 years ago, call it a coincidence or a twist of fate. To maintain their chances of earning a ticket in the World Cup Qualifiers Round 3, India must win their match against Kuwait. India, with four points from four games and a current ranking of second in Group A, will play their last group stage match against Qatar. Only the two best teams advance.

Chhetri’s journey began in 2002 with Mohun Bagan. With stints at the Sporting CP reserves in Portugal (2012) and the Kansas City Wizards in the USA (2010), his talent quickly took him overseas. He wore the jerseys of elite teams in his native India, including Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, Dempo, and East Bengal. Chhetri saw real success with Bengaluru, where he won titles in the I-League (2014, 2016), ISL (2019), and Super Cup (2018). In 2016, he guided them all the way to the AFC Cup final.

Sunil Chhetri’s performance at clubs is wonderful, his international achievements are what really make him special. India’s triumphs in the SAFF Championship (2011, 2015, 2021) and the Nehru Cup (2007, 2009, 2012) have been greatly aided by him. Most notably, he helped India win the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which allowed them to qualify for their first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years.

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