New Delhi: A new United Nations report says
that any change in India`s summer monsoon due to climate
change will immediately threaten the livelihood of farmers
with marginal or small farm holdings.
As per the 2001 census, approximately 92 million
households or 490 million people are dependent on marginal or
small farm holdings. This translates into 60 per cent of rural
population or 42 per cent of total population.
Fifty-one per cent of entire sown land is totally
rain-fed. Thus effects of climate change in the form of
drought in the country will have serious implications on the
livelihood of these people, according to the United Nation`s
report `The State of World Population, 2009`.
The report further goes on to say that women play an
important role in ensuring their communities` ability to cope
with and adapt to climate change in India.
"After a cyclone in Orissa, most relief efforts were
channelled through women, who received relief-supplies, loans
and house-building grants.
"Increase in access to family planning services and
acceptance by the community results in women better exercising
their reproductive freedom," the report said.
Family planning, reproductive health care and gender
relations could influence the future course of climate change
and affect how humanity adapts to rising seas, worsening
storms and severe droughts, the report said.
Bureau Report
