Climate resilient horticultural crops of future

Climate resilient agriculture (CRA) represents whole-system approach to food, feed, fuel and fibre production that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. CRA encompasses adaptation and mitigation strategies and the effective use of biodiversity at all levels- genes, species and ecosystems forman essential pre-requisite for sustainable development in the face of changing climate. Climate change and its variability have major impacts on the Indian agriculture. Long term changes in shifting weather patterns have resulted in changing climate. Effect on agricultural productivity through high and low temperature regimes, increased rainfall variability, and rising sea levels which potentially deteriorate coastal freshwater reserves and increased flooding, have been witnessed. Yields of irrigated crops across regions are negatively affected, both due to increased temperature and changes in water availability. Rainfall variability and reduction in number of rainy days are the factors which affect the rainfed agriculture the most. The fourth IPCC report on global and regional impacts of projected climate change on agriculture showed significant decline in production. Shortening of growing period that have negative impact on reproduction and grain filling are particularly due to terminal heat stress and decreased water availability.