Climate change address ingthrough Location-Specific climate smart Horticulture-A Review

The quantification of impacts of variations in temperature, excess and limited moisture conditions is the first step to prepare the horticulture sector for developing adaptation strategies under climate change scenarios. Efforts have been made to study and assess the impacts on individual crops under the major agro-ecological regions and growing seasons. The production practices which can be adjusted to compensate climate change needs scientific validation. Production areas for specific crops or timing of sowing and planting could be changed, but for many horticultural crops, market windows and infrastructure, such as availability of local packing and distribution facilities are critical components to be looked into. It is likely to alter important interactions between horticultural plants and pollinators, insect and disease, and pests and weeds. There is need for quick and clear understanding of impact of climate change on horticultural crops for making sound action plan because horticulture based farming systems have high potential for sequestering carbon for mitigation of climate change. The perennial trees act as carbon sinks by sequestering the atmospheric carbon. The carbon credits could be earned under the clean development mechanism. An integrated approach with all available options will be most effective in sustaining the productivity under climate change conditions based on location specific climate smart horticulture principles.