Effect of climate change on bajra production in Rajasthan (2011-2024)

A change in the state of climate that can be identified by changes in the variability of its properties and persists for extended period typically decade or longer known as climate change. Climate change directly impacts temperature and rainfall which are key determinates of agriculture system and indirectly impacts economy. Around 58% area of Rajasthan comes under the Western Dry region as per Planning Commission of India-1989. Desert characteristics are high temperature, low rainfall and production of crops which are less dependent on rainfall. Bajra is second most important millet which is used as food in drier parts of the country. Bajra is also the main source of income for desert people in terms of agriculture economy. But in recent times because of changing pattern of rainfall has greatly impacted production of Bajra. This research paper is based on secondary data; agriculture data is collected from- Department of Planning & Statistics, Rajasthan and rainfall data is collected from Indian Meteorological Department. Karl Pearson coefficient method is used to see the correlation between variables rainfall and production of bajra from 2011 to 2024. Hopefully this research paper will fulfil its purpose to bring the attention on rising concerns on bajra production in Rajasthan because of farmers shift towards other crops because of excessive rain over the years. But after declaration of 2023 as “International Year of Millet” by honorable PM Narendra Modi at the international level its golden opportunity for the farmers of Rajasthan to raise their income by investing in bajra or the “Pearl millet” where inputs like fertilizers, water need are very less but very high outputs are there because of increasing consumption of Bajra due to its nutrition value and being a gluten-free alternative.