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At 25, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Have Suffered The Most Heatwaves So Far This Summer: IMD

Therefore, the current impact of La Nina on the spring and summer season in India is completely unexpected," Murtugudde said, adding: "The heat waves may continue till at least the monsoon season begins in June." Part I of the IPCC's (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Sixth Assessment Report in October 2021 had warned that every additional 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming would increase hot weather extremes, along with extreme precipitation and drought. Heat waves in India are likely to "last 25 times longer by 2036-2065" if carbon emissions remain high and push global temperature rise to 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Heatwaves exert enormous impacts on health, agriculture and availability of water - all often related to each other in complex ways, the CSE/DTE analysis pointed out and said: "On the other hand, agricultural yields get impacted as well. For instance, the wheat crop in the current rabi season in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh has been impacted by heatwaves. Many farmers have reported losses between 20 and 60 per cent in these states." "This happened because the heat waves were early this year, and the temperatures affected the wheat plants during their growth stage, leading to shrivelled grains which fetch lower prices in the market, resulting in losses. To reduce agricultural losses due to heatwaves, heat-tolerant wheat varieties need to be developed," it said.

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Summer of 2022 cruelest for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan

BHOPAL: This summer has to be the worst... If you found yourself muttering this in the summer of 2022 in Madhya Pradesh, you may not be too far off the mark. A study by the Centre for Science and Environment says that MP and Rajasthan have been impacted the most by summer till April 24 this year. Summer came early this year - and with a sizzle. MP has been reeling under extreme heat conditions since early March, and temperatures surpassed 42 degrees Celsius in the beginning of April in many parts, including Bhopal. The unrelenting heat surge started as early as March 11 in the state, with 25 heat-wave and 'severe heat wave' days each during this period, says the CSE report that has analysed IMD data. As per the Met department, a heat wave happens when the temperature crosses 40 degrees Celsius in plains or when a place registers a temperature 4.5-6.4 degrees Celsius higher than normal for the region on that day. If the temperature is higher than 6.4 degrees above normal, the IMD declares a 'severe' heat wave. The IMD also uses another criteria to declare a heat wave, which is based on absolute recorded temperatures. If the temperature crosses the 45 degrees mark, it's a heat wave, and if it crosses 47, a 'severe' heat wave. Heat waves exert enormous impacts on health, agriculture and availability of water - all often related to each other in complex ways. According to the report, D Sivananda Pai of the Kottayam-based Institute for Climate Change Studies says that anticyclones over western parts of Rajasthan in March and the absence of rain-bearing Western disturbances had triggered the early and extreme heat waves. After an agonizing April, there's May to contend with.

Down To Earth

Early heat waves this year have so far impacted 15 states and UTs

Surprisingly, after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh has been the most affected by heat waves this year. NEW DELHI: The early heat waves of 2022 that began on March 11 have impacted 15 Indian states and Union territories as of now, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The data analysed by Down To Earth shows that Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have suffered the most among the states, with 25 heatwave and severe heatwave days each during this period. The IMD says a heatwave happens when the temperature of a place crosses 40 degrees C in the plains, 37 degrees C in coastal areas, and 30 degrees C in the hills. The weather agency declares a heatwave when a place registers a temperature that is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees C more than the normal temperature for the region on that day. If the temperature is over 6.4 degrees C more than normal, the IMD declares a ‘severe’ heatwave. The IMD also uses another criterion to declare a heatwave which is based on absolute recorded temperatures. If the temperature crosses the 45 degrees C mark, the Department declares a heatwave; when it crosses 47, a ‘severe’ heatwave is declared. Surprisingly, after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh has been the most affected by heat waves this year -- with 21 heat waves and severe heatwave days. One anomalous point in the IMD’s data is that the weather agency has officially declared only one heatwave day for Odisha. D Sivananda Pai of the Kottayam-based Institute for Climate Change Studies says that anticyclones over western parts of Rajasthan in March and the absence of rain-bearing Western disturbances had triggered the early and extreme heatwaves. Anticyclones cause hot and dry weather by sinking winds around high-pressure systems in the atmosphere. Raghu Murtugudde, a climate scientist at the University of Maryland explains that a north-south pressure pattern, associated with the La Nina phenomenon in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean that happens during winters in India, has persisted longer than expected and interacted with warm waves coming in from a rapidly warming Arctic region, leading to the heat waves. In the first installment of the Sixth Assessment Report, the IPCC asserted that human activities have warmed the planet at a rate never seen before in the planet’s long history, and the Earth’s global surface temperature has warmed by 1.09 degrees C compared to the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900. Human influence is the main driver of hot weather extremes (which have become more frequent and intense since the 1950s). The IPCC report says that every additional 0.5 degrees C of warming will increase hot weather extremes, along with extreme precipitation and drought. Heat waves in India are likely to “last 25 times longer by 2036-2065” if carbon emissions remain high and push global temperature rise to 4oC by the end of the century, according to an international climate report published October 28, 2021, covering the G20 countries. State-wise Number of heatwave days between March 11 and April 24: Rajasthan -25, Madhya Pradesh -25, Himachal Pradesh -21, Gujarat -19, Jammu and Kashmir-16, Haryana-15, Delhi NCR-15, Uttar Pradesh -11, Jharkhand-11, Punjab-7, Maharashtra -6, Uttarakhand-4, Bihar -2, Goa-2, Odisha-1.

Down To Earth

Record heat has gripped India since March. It’s about to get worse.

March maximum temperatures were the highest in 122 years. Temperatures late this week could near April records. Temperatures in India remain high amid ongoing heat waves that have plagued the country with dry, sweltering weather since early spring. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that its March maximum temperatures were the highest in nearly a century and a quarter, and rainfall was only running about a quarter to a third of normal. A hot weather pattern has persisted in many parts of India during April, and the highest temperatures yet may afflict the country Wednesday into the weekend. A large majority of Indian households live in poverty and lack air conditioning, increasing the population’s vulnerability to heat. Older adults are especially at risk from high temperatures. The sky-high temperatures exemplify the overlap between natural variability and the effects of human-caused climate change, which are known to make heat waves more intense and prolonged. On Monday, several cities across the nation registered highs over 109 degrees (42.8 Celsius); the city of Wardha in the west-central state of Maharashtra soared to 113 degrees (45 Celsius). Temperatures are forecast to rise further, leaping 10 to 15 degrees (5.5 to 8.3 Celsius) above average during the second half of this week, reigniting worry for those without any way to escape the heat. Portions of northern and western India, especially areas near the borders with Pakistan and Nepal, may endure the most extreme heat. That’s where highs may reach 110 to 115 degrees (44 to 46 Celsius) Wednesday and Thursday. Between Friday and Sunday, temperatures could climb as high as 120 degrees (49 Celsius) if the most extreme forecast models are correct. Temperatures may approach national records in India and Pakistan for the month of April. According to Maximiliano Herrera, an expert on world weather extremes, the highest reliable April temperature in India is 118.9 degrees (48.3 Celsius), set in Barmer in northwest India in 1958. Nawabshah, Pakistan, about 125 miles inland from the Arabian Sea, hit 122.4 degrees (50.2 Celsius) four years ago; this record, possibly the highest temperature ever observed worldwide in April, may be more difficult to beat. A contributor to the heat is high pressure at the middle altitudes in the atmosphere, a dome-like “ridge” of sinking air that eradicates cloud cover and deflects storm systems to the north. That will allow sunshine to pour in unobstructed, heating the antecedent dry air. Overarching weather patterns suggest little relief in sight over the week to 10 days ahead, although the intensity of the heat may ease some next week. India’s average maximum temperature during the month of March was 91.6 degrees (33.1 Celsius), narrowly surpassing the previous record from March 2010. Fifteen Indian states and territories have been affected by heat waves since March, according to the Center for Science and Environment, a public interest research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi. The states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in northwest and central India were hardest hit; each having observed 25 heat wave days so far this spring. At least one person died of heat-related causes in March in Maharashtra, while two others died after being struck by lightning. During April alone, New Delhi, home to more than 25 million people, has hit 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) 23 out of 25 days; the average high temperature is about 98 degrees (36.7 Celsius). All told, the capital’s running about 4.8 degrees (2.7 Celsius) above average for the month. Delhi posted a 107-degree (41.7 Celsius) high on four April days, and nicked 108 (42.2 Celsius) on April 19. Potentially more problematic than the lofty high temperatures, though, have been elevated nighttime lows. That’s especially true in the city, where the “urban heat island” effect spurred by cement and paved-over surfaces traps thermal energy long after the sun has set. Warm overnight lows prevent the body from having a nocturnal cool-down period, increasing heat stress and the propensity for negative health effects. Delhi’s average nighttime low during April is 71 degrees (21.7 Celsius). Seven nights in April have failed to dip below 75 degrees (23.9 Celsius). Since the start of March, Delhi has only received 0.01 inch of rain. The average for March and April is 1.14 inches. The drought reinforces the heat, since dry air is easier to heat up, which then saps the ground of moisture further and entrenches the cycle. Rainfall across the country has been 71 percent lower for March 2022 than its long-term average. The IMD stated that rainfall over India has been its third-lowest since 1901. Neighboring Pakistan had the highest worldwide positive temperature anomaly during the month of March, meaning the margin between observed temperatures and averaged temperatures there was bigger than anywhere else across the globe. Multiple stations set all-time monthly records during February and March. Temperatures during that heat wave peaked a dozen or more degrees above average. In 2020, the IMD’s Ministry of Earth Sciences published a report citing a 1.3-degree (0.7 Celsius) rise in temperatures across India as a whole between 1901 and 2018. Under an extreme emissions scenario, it projects the frequency of summer heat waves to at least triple by the end of the century. It also cautions that the frequency of warm nights is projected to jump by 70 percent. Ordinarily, temperatures begin to plateau and acutely decline late in the spring during the buildup of the summer monsoon, which occurs when onshore winds transport copious moisture northward and bring heavy downpours across much of the region. However, that too is changing. “The overall decrease of seasonal summer monsoon rainfall during the last 6-7 decades has led to an increased propensity for droughts over India,” the ministry writes. It projects “a high likelihood of increase in the frequency (>2 events per decade), intensity and area under drought conditions in India” by the end of the century.

Down To Earth

HEAT WAVES IN INDIA

How bad has this year’s heat wave been in India? The early heat waves of 2022 that began on March 11 have impacted 15 Indian states and Union territories (as of April 24), according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) that was analysed by Down To Earth. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have suffered the most among the states, with 25 heat wave and severe heat wave days each during this period. The IMD says a heat wave happens when the temperature of a place crosses 40oC in the plains, 37oC in coastal areas, and 30oC in the hills. The weather agency declares a heat wave when a place registers a temperature that is 4.5 to 6.4oC more than the normal temperature for the region on that day. If the temperature is over 6.4oC more than the normal, the IMD declares a ‘severe’ heat wave. The IMD also uses another criteria to declare a heat wave which is based on absolute recorded temperatures. If the temperature crosses the 45oC mark, the Department declares a heat wave; when it crosses 47, a ‘severe’ heat wave is declared. Surprisingly, after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh has been the most affected by heat waves this year — with 21 heat wave and severe heat wave days. One anomalous point in the IMD’s data is that the weather agency has officially declared only one heat wave day for Odisha, even though Down To Earth has recently reported higher than 40oC temperatures being recorded across the state on April 24 and rising temperatures since the beginning of April. TABLE: State-wise number of heat wave days between March 11 and April 24 State Number of heat wave days Gujarat 19 Goa 2 Rajasthan 25 Himachal Pradesh 21 Uttarakhand 4 Maharashtra 6 Madhya Pradesh 25 Odisha 1 Jammu and Kashmir 16 Haryana 15 Delhi NCR 15 Uttar Pradesh 11 Jharkhand 11 Bihar 2 Punjab 7 D Sivananda Pai of the Kottayam-based Institute for Climate Change Studies says that anti-cyclones over western parts of Rajasthan in March and the absence of rain-bearing Western disturbances had triggered the early and extreme heat waves. Anticyclones cause hot and dry weather by sinking winds around high pressure systems in the atmosphere. Raghu Murtugudde, a climate scientist at the University of Maryland explains that a north-south pressure pattern, associated with the La Nina phenomenon in eastern and central Pacific Ocean that happens during winters in India, has persisted longer than expected and interacted with warm waves coming in from a rapidly warming Arctic region, leading to the heat waves. The sea surface temperatures over east and central Pacific Ocean become cooler-than-average during La Niña. This affects the trade winds flowing over the ocean surface through changes in wind stress. The trade winds carry this weather disturbance elsewhere and affect large parts of the world. In India, the phenomenon is mostly associated with wet and cold winters. Therefore, the current impact of La Niña on the spring and summer season in India is completely unexpected. Murtugudde says that the heat waves may continue till at least the monsoon season begins in June. What global evidence do we have of heat waves happening across the world? In the first instalment of the Sixth Assessment Report, the IPCC asserted that human activities have warmed the planet at a rate never seen before in the planet’s long history, and the Earth’s global surface temperature has warmed by 1.09oC compared to the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900. Human influence is the main driver of hot weather extremes (which have become more frequent and intense since 1950s). Improvements in climate models and analytics have enabled scientists to identify “fingerprints” of human influence on climate change by observing records of rainfall, temperature, and other factors. In the past two decades, scientists have published more than 350 scientific papers and assessments analysing the role of anthropogenic GHG emissions in individual extreme events. The IPCC report says that every additional 0.5oC of warming will increase hot weather extremes, along with extreme precipitation and drought. Heat waves in India are likely to “last 25 times longer by 2036-2065” if carbon emissions remain high and push global temperature rise to 4oC by the end of the century, according to an international climate report published October 28, 2021, covering the G20 countries. What is ‘wet-bulb’ and why does it matter? The world is not only getting hotter but also wetter or more humid. We usually consider the dry-bulb temperature – the ambient air temperature — to describe how hot or cold a place is. Scientists, however, have been stressing upon considering humidity and other factors to assess how weather conditions will affect human health and activities. Wet-bulb temperature is a measure of humidity in the air. Factoring in humidity along with the heat, called the heat index, helps us determine what the temperature actually ‘feels like’. Humidity combined with heat is deadlier for human health and wellbeing. Humans with their sweat-based cooling system, have been well-designed to beat the heat. But there is a limit to the level of heat and humidity we can cope with. A wet-bulb temperature of 35°C is considered the maximum limit of humidity that humans can handle. Beyond this, the body can no longer effectively cool itself via perspiration. In the latest report by the IPCC, focused on the impacts of climate change, “deadly heat waves projected in some of the 14 densely populated agricultural regions of South Asia (such as the Ganges and Indus river basins)”. These regions are likely to exceed the critical threshold of wet-bulb temperature of 35°C under the business-as-usual scenario, if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced. What have been the impacts of heat waves? Heat waves exert enormous impacts on health, agriculture and availability of water – all often related to each other in complex ways. Even though the number of deaths due to heat waves in India has decreased over the years, research shows that the general physical and mental wellbeing of people does get affected by extreme temperatures. On the other hand, agricultural yields get impacted as well. For instance, the wheat crop in the current rabi season in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh has been impacted by heat waves. Many farmers have reported losses between 20 and 60 per cent in these states. This happened because the heat waves were early this year and the temperatures affected the wheat plants during their growth stage, leading to shriveled grains which fetch lower prices in the market, resulting in losses. To reduce agricultural losses due to heat waves, heat-tolerant varieties of wheat need to be developed. Similarly, heat-resistant varieties of other rabi crops also need to be developed. Apart from direct heat, agricultural yields may also get impacted by droughts or drought-like conditions that are often associated with heat waves. This mainly occurs because of non-availability of water for irrigation during drought conditions. The unlikely impact of the current heat waves would occur in the Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Uttarakhand that are not used to heat waves and not well adapted to the extreme temperatures. One major impact in these regions would be on the accelerated melting of glaciers due to extreme temperatures which are the main source of water for the people living there. What is being done globally, and what else needs to be done? Cities need a combination of early warning systems, preparedness and training among government officials; community outreach programmes to assist during a heat wave; and proactive urban planning to avoid the worst impacts of extreme heat. The first Heat Action Plan (HAP) was developed for Ahmedabad in 2013. Under this, people will receive weather alerts through SMS on mobile phones and medical professionals will be trained to increase preparedness. The initiative avoided 1,190 deaths a year, according to a study published in 2018, that evaluated the plan’s impact on death rates. Several cities around the world are hiring dedicated officials to address extreme heat. The first such official was hired in the Miami-Dade County in the United States – Jane Gilbert. In less than a year since Gibert’s appointment, four more cities have followed. In July 2021, Athens, the capital of Greece, named its former deputy mayor Eleni Myrivili as chief heat officer. In October, Phoenix city in Arizona, US, and Freetown in Sierra Leone, Africa, named their chief heat officers. On March 3, 2022, Santiago, the capital of Chile, appointed urban planner Cristina Huidobro as the world’s fifth chief heat officer. Los Angeles in California, US, has also advertised a vacancy for the role. The new-found urgency with which cities are hiring heat officers reflects a reckoning on heat unfolding across the world. Heat waves claimed over 166,000 lives between 1998 and 2017, according to the World Health Organization. The third instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR 6) focuses on the importance of urban green and blue infrastructure such as green walls, greenways, street trees, urban forests, green roofs, blue spaces, to cool urban areas. Urban trees can mitigate some of the impacts of climate change by reducing the urban heat island effect and heat stress. In addition, they can reduce stormwater runoff, improving air quality, and supporting health and well-being in areas where the majority of the world’s population resides. ( A CSE briefing note)

Down To Earth

Organic Fertiliser Production Down to Just 3.88 Million Tonnnes from 338.72 Million Tonnes in FY17-18: CSE

In 2020-21, India produced 3.88mn (million) tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72mn tonnes in 2017-18, a new report said adding that a targeted, ambitious, and well-funded nationwide programme is needed to drive the change towards organic and natural farming. The Centre has initiated several schemes and programmes through which it promotes production and use of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers. These schemes include those aimed at farmers to promote organic and natural farming such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-Eastern Region, National Food Security Mission and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm. "However, the sum total of funds spent on these schemes and programmes is dwarfed by the annual subsidy provided on chemical fertilisers. For example, the total organic farming practicing area covered under these schemes and programmes is only about 2.7 per cent of India's net sown area of 140.1 million hectare," said the CSE report State of Biofertilisers and Organic Fertilisers in India. Between 2018 and 2021, a sum of only Rs994 crore was released for Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs416 crore for the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeastern Region, and about Rs 4 crore for biofertilisers under the National Food Security Mission. Total subsidy on chemical fertilisers is steeply growing every year. In 2020-21, the annual subsidy bill was Rs1,31,230 crore, which is more than 10 times the subsidy bill in 2001-02 (Rs12,908 crore). The subsidy bill has grown sharply from 2019-20, when it was Rs 83,468 crore, partly due to rising international prices leading to higher subsidies on imported fertilisers. Providing details of production of organic fertilisers, the report mentioned that in 2017-18, Bihar led with 30% production of organic fertilisers in India and was followed by Gujarat and Jharkhand. In 2018-19, Karnataka was the biggest producer of organic fertilisers, with a 94% share in countrywide production. The state continued to be the leading producer in 2019-20, but its share dropped to 64%. In that year, Andhra Pradesh had the second biggest share. In 2020-21, with a share of 63%, Chhattisgarh led the countrywide production of organic fertilisers and Karnataka slipped to the second spot. In 2020-21, India produced 3.88mn tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72mn tonnes in 2017-18. The reasons for the steep fall in national production of organic fertilisers within a span of three years, or the manner in which state-wise shares in the total production have changed substantially between years, are not clear, the latest report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has pointed out. However, there are some things to look forward to. In 2020-21, the total production of liquid biofertilisers in India was about 26,442 kilolitres (kl), which marked a growth of about 552% over the 2014-15 figures and when it comes to carrier-based solid biofertilisers, in 2020-21, India produced about 1,34,323 tonnes, a growth of about 435% over the 2008-09 figure and 83% over the 2018-19 figure. Pointing out that in 2017, India had 424 carrier-based solid biofertiliser manufacturing units and 108 for liquid biofertiliser manufacturing units, the CSE report said, "The production capacities are not optimally utilised by all states. There is also lack of compiled countrywide information on companies, registered biofertiliser products and authorisations given at the Central level." Production and availability of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers must be ensured, and their use must be promoted through a multi-pronged approach by the Centre and states, the report recommended and suggested several steps to ease out the creases in the field. Biofertilisers are ready to use live formulates of beneficial microorganisms that on application to seed, root or soil mobilise nutrients through their biological activity in particular and help in building up the micro-flora and soil health in general. Organic fertilisers consist of decomposed organic material derived from animal, human and plant residues. They are of different types depending on the source of the organic material and nature of composting. For example, organic manure is a mix of cattle dung and plant residues, while vermicompost is developed with the help of earthworms.

Down To Earth

सूरज की गर्मी से जल रहा हिंदुस्तान, अभी और सताएगी गर्मी

पेड़ों की कमी कहें या फिर पर्यावरण में परिवर्तन। सूरज की भीषण गर्मी से हिंदुस्तान का जर्रा जर्रा तप रहा है। फिर चाहे वह राजस्थान का थार हो या फिर गोवा का तट। जम्मू-कश्मीर और उत्तराखंड की पहाड़ियां हों या फिर मध्यप्रदेश का मैदान। तपीश में सब झुलस रहे हैं। सबसे ज्यादा आग राजस्थान और मध्यप्रदेश में लगी हुई है। पेड़ों की कमी कहें या फिर पर्यावरण में परिवर्तन। सूरज की भीषण गर्मी से हिंदुस्तान का जर्रा जर्रा तप रहा है। फिर चाहे वह राजस्थान का थार हो या फिर गोवा का तट। जम्मू-कश्मीर और उत्तराखंड की पहाड़ियां हों या फिर मध्यप्रदेश का मैदान। तपीश में सब झुलस रहे हैं। सबसे ज्यादा आग राजस्थान और मध्यप्रदेश में लगी हुई है। गर्मी यहां अपना चरम पार कर रही है। भारत मौसम विज्ञान विभाग के आंकड़ों का डाउन टू अर्थ ने विश्लेषण किया है। इस साल शुरुआती हीट वेव यानी भीषण गर्मी 11 मार्च को शुरू हुई थी। इसने 15 राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों को प्रभावित किया है। राजस्थान और मध्य प्रदेश सबसे अधिक प्रभावित हुए हैं। इस दौरान इन राज्यों में हीट वेव के 25 दिन (भीषण गर्मी की लहर / लू) सबसे बुरे रहे। क्या होता है हीटवेब भारतीय मौसम विभाग के मुताबिक हीट वेव तब होता है, जब किसी जगह का तापमान मैदानी इलाकों में 40 डिग्री सेल्सियस तटीय क्षेत्रों में 37 डिग्री सेल्सियस और पहाड़ी क्षेत्रों में 30 डिग्री सेल्सियस को पार कर जाता है। किसी ख़ास दिन किसी एक जगह पर उस क्षेत्र के सामान्य तापमान से 4.5 से 6.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस अधिक तापमान दर्ज होता है तो मौसम विभाग उसे हीट वेव कहती है। यह तापमान सामान्य से 6.4 डिग्री सेल्सियस अधिक है, तो इसे 'गंभीर' हीट वेव घोषित करता है। 45 डिग्री से तापमान अधिक तो हीट वेब भारतीय मौसम विभाग हीट वेव घोषित करने के लिए एक अन्य मानदंड का भी उपयोग करता है। यह पूर्ण रूप से दर्ज तापमान पर आधारित होता है। किसी भी क्षेत्र में अगर तापमान 45 डिग्री सेल्सियस को पार कर जाता है। तो वहां हीट वेव घोषित किया जाता है और जब यह 47 डिग्री को पार करता है, तो 'गंभीर' हीट वेव की घोषणा की जाती है। इस बार राजस्थान और मध्यप्रदेश में तपिश ज्यादा राजस्थान और मध्य प्रदेश के बाद, हिमाचल प्रदेश जैसा पर्वतीय राज्य इस वर्ष हीट वेव से सबसे अधिक प्रभावित हुआ है। यहां हीट वेव और गंभीर हीट वेव के 21 दिन दर्ज किए गए। मौसम एजेंसी ने आधिकारिक तौर पर ओडिशा के लिए केवल एक हीट वेव दिवस घोषित किया है। इंस्टीट्यूट फॉर क्लाइमेट चेंज स्टडीज के डी शिवानंद पाई का कहना है कि मार्च में राजस्थान के पश्चिमी हिस्सों में एंटी-साइक्लोन और बारिश वाले पश्चिमी विक्षोभ की अनुपस्थिति शुरुआती हीटवेव के कारण रहे। वायुमंडल में उच्च दबाव प्रणाली के आसपास तापमान बढाने वाली हवाओं के होने से, एंटी-साइक्लोन गर्म और शुष्क मौसम का कारण बनते हैं। सबसे ज्यादा तप रहा राजस्थान और मध्यप्रदेश राजस्थान 25 मध्य प्रदेश 25 हिमाचल प्रदेश 21 गुजरात 19 जम्मू और कश्मीर 16 हरियाणा 15 दिल्ली एनसीआर 15 उत्तर प्रदेश 11 झारखंड 11 पंजाब 7 महाराष्ट्र 6 उत्तराखंड 4 बिहार 2 गोवा 2 ओडिशा 1 ...तो इसलिए बढ़ा हीटवेब मैरीलैंड यूनिवर्सिटी के एक क्लाइमेट साइंटिस्ट रघु मुर्तुगुड्डे बताते हैं कि पूर्वी और मध्य प्रशांत महासागर में ला नीना से जुड़ा एक नार्थ-साउथ प्रेशर पैटर्न, जो भारत में सर्दियों के दौरान होता है, उम्मीद से अधिक समय तक बना रहा। इसने तेजी से गर्म हो रहे आर्कटिक क्षेत्र से आने वाली गर्म लहरों के साथ मिल कर हीट वेव का निर्माण किया। पूर्वी और मध्य प्रशांत महासागर में समुद्र की सतह का तापमान ला नीना के दौरान औसत से अधिक ठंडा हो जाता है। यह हवा के दबाव में परिवर्तन के माध्यम से समुद्र की सतह पर बहने वाली व्यापारिक हवाओं को प्रभावित करता है। ये व्यापारिक हवाएं इस मौसम की गड़बड़ी को अपने साथ ढो कर ले जाती है और दुनिया के बड़े हिस्से को प्रभावित करती हैं। भारत में, यह घटना ज्यादातर नम सर्दियों से जुड़ी है। इसलिए, भारत में वसंत और गर्मी के दौरान ला नीना का वर्तमान प्रभाव पूरी तरह से अप्रत्याशित है। मुर्तुगुड्डे कहते हैं कि हीट वेव जून में मानसून के शुरू होने तक जारी रह सकती हैं। ...तो 4 डिग्री तो गर्म हो जाएगी पृथ्वी छठी मूल्यांकन रिपोर्ट की पहली किस्त में आईपीसीसी ने जोर देकर कहा कि 1850-1900 के पूर्व-औद्योगिक अवधि की तुलना में, पृथ्वी की वैश्विक सतह का तापमान 1.09 डिग्री सेल्सियस अधिक गर्म हो गया है। मानव हस्तक्षेप इस स्थिति का मुख्य कारण है। जलवायु मॉडल और विश्लेषण में सुधार ने वैज्ञानिकों को वर्षा,तापमान और अन्य कारकों के रिकॉर्ड देखकर जलवायु परिवर्तन पर मानव प्रभाव की पहचान करने में सक्षम बनाया है। हर अतिरिक्त 0.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस अत्यधिक वर्षा और सूखे के साथ-साथ गर्म मौसम को बढ़ाएगी। कार्बन उत्सर्जन अधिक रहता है तो भारत में हीट वेव्स के 2036-2065 तक 25 गुना अधिक समय तक रहने की संभावना है। यह सदी के अंत तक वैश्विक तापमान में 4 डिग्री सेल्सियस की वृद्धि करेगा।

Sustainable Food Systems

Dramatic Fall In Organic Fertiliser Production In India From 2017-18 To 2020-21: CSE Report

In 2020-21, India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonne in 2017-18, a new report said adding that a targeted, ambitious, and well-funded nationwide programme is needed to drive the change towards organic and natural farming. The Centre has initiated several schemes and programmes through which it promotes production and use of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers. These schemes include those aimed at farmers to promote organic and natural farming such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-Eastern Region, National Food Security Mission and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm. “However, the sum total of funds spent on these schemes and programmes is dwarfed by the annual subsidy provided on chemical fertilisers. For example, the total organic farming practicing area covered under these schemes and programmes is only about 2.7 per cent of India’s net sown area of 140.1 million hectare,” said the CSE report State of Biofertilisers and Organic Fertilisers in India. Between 2018 and 2021, a sum of only Rs 994 crore was released for Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs 416 crore for the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for northeastern region, and about Rs 4 crore for biofertilisers under the National Food Security Mission. Total subsidy on chemical fertilisers is steeply growing every year. In 2020-21, the annual subsidy bill was Rs 1,31,230 crore, which is more than 10 times the subsidy bill in 2001-02 (Rs 12,908 crore). The subsidy bill has grown sharply from 2019-20, when it was Rs 83,468 crore, partly due to rising international prices leading to higher subsidies on imported fertilisers. Providing details of production of organic fertilisers, the report mentioned that in 2017-18, Bihar led with 30 per cent production of organic fertilisers in India and was followed by Gujarat and Jharkhand. In 2018-19, Karnataka was the biggest producer of organic fertilisers, with a 94 per cent share in countrywide production. The state continued to be the leading producer in 2019-20, but its share dropped to 64 per cent. In that year, Andhra Pradesh had the second biggest share. In 2020-21, with a share of 63 per cent, Chhattisgarh led the countrywide production of organic fertilisers and Karnataka slipped to the second spot. In 2020-21, India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonnes in 2017-18. The reasons for the steep fall in national production of organic fertilisers within a span of three years, or the manner in which state-wise shares in the total production have changed substantially between years, are not clear, the latest report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has pointed out. However, there are some things to look forward to. In 2020-21, the total production of liquid biofertilisers in India was about 26,442 kilolitres (kl), which marked a growth of about 552 per cent over the 2014-15 figures and when it comes to carrier-based solid biofertilisers, in 2020-21, India produced about 1,34,323 tonnes, a growth of about 435 per cent over the 2008-09 figure and 83 per cent over the 2018-19 figure. Pointing out that in 2017, India had 424 carrier-based solid biofertiliser manufacturing units and 108 for liquid biofertiliser manufacturing units, the CSE report said, “The production capacities are not optimally utilised by all states. There is also lack of compiled countrywide information on companies, registered biofertiliser products and authorisations given at the Central level.” Production and availability of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers must be ensured, and their use must be promoted through a multi-pronged approach by the Centre and states, the report recommended and suggested several steps to ease out the creases in the field. Biofertilisers are ready to use live formulates of beneficial microorganisms that on application to seed, root or soil mobilise nutrients through their biological activity in particular and help in building up the micro-flora and soil health in general. Organic fertilisers consist of decomposed organic material derived from animal, human and plant residues. They are of different types depending on the source of the organic material and nature of composting. For example, organic manure is a mix of cattle dung and plant residues, while vermicompost is developed with the help of earthworms.

Sustainable Mobility

West Bengal: Ensure BS-VI vehicles over 1 year old undergo PUC check, police told

KOLKATA: The Bengal government directed police to ensure Bharat Stage (BS)-VI vehicles, registered on April 1, 2020, and earlier, undergo pollution check and have valid pollution-under-control (PUC) certificates. BS-VI is a much stricter emission standard and its compliance will cut down on tailpipe emission, which contributes to 30% of the city’s ambient air pollution. After registration, new BS-VI vehicles were offered a one-year relief but the pandemic delayed pollution-check enforcement further by a year. Now, the transport department has asked police to check whether all BS-VI vehicles, registered at least a year ago, have valid certificates. India cities were brought under the Bharat Stage regime in 2000. The fourth iteration, BS-IV, was introduced in 2017 and therefore the delay between the introduction of BS-III and BS-IV resulted in fast-tracking the BS-VI emission norms, skipping BS-V. “While the BS-IV emission norms allow a vehicle to emit not more than 80mg/km of NOx (nitrogen oxides), BS-VI emission norms have reduced it to 60mg/km,” an official said. The insurance regulatory and development authority (IRDA) recently asked insurance companies not to renew any motor policy until vehicle owners provided valid PUC certificates. Kolkata has 1,42,308 BS-VI vehicles, of which over 50,000 were registered in 2020, 69,000 in 2021 and 20,000 in 2022. “Under the BS-VI norms, the pollution limit has been drastically reduced. While the norm for NOx from diesel vehicles in BS-IV is at 250mg/km, it is reduced to 80mg/km under BS-VI. The HC+NOx has been reduced from 300mg/km in the BS-IV to 170mg/km,” explained P K Bose, an automobile expert and former director, NIT. But, many experts said, PUC enforcement was just a token move. “PUC is irrelevant for BS-VI vehicles, with the introduction of Real Driving Emission (RDE). There needs to be a paradigm shift in technology in the form of a remote sensing device, which can measure tailpipe emissions for key pollutants while vehicles are on the move. We need huge preparedness and training for our regional transport offices to adjust to the new BS-VI norms,” said Anumita Roy Choudhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi. “RPM meters are necessary, along with a pollution measuring device to check the levels under driving conditions. But many auto emission testing centres (AETC) do not have RPM meters,” said auto emission consultant S M Ghosh.

Sustainable Mobility

Ridership yet to hit pre-pandemic levels: Metro data

To be sure, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday reimposed the masks mandate in the Capital but has not imposed any other restrictions, including on transport. Despite lifting of all Covid-19 related restrictions in the Capital, the daily average ridership of the Delhi Metro only rose to 66% of the pre-pandemic level. According to data from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the average daily ridership on weekdays between February 28 and April 17 this year is currently around four million, as against the 6.13 million average weekday ridership between January 1 and February 29 in 2020. During weekends, the average daily ridership between February 28 and April 17 this year was 3.121 million even as the data shows 4.753 million people used to take the Metro on weekdays between January 1 and February 29, 2020. The Delhi Metro had been operating under reduced capacity since the first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, and returned to normalcy only from February 28, 2022, when the Delhi Metro was allowed to function with 100% seating and standing capacity. To be sure, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Wednesday reimposed the masks mandate in the Capital but has not imposed any other restrictions, including on transport. After the first Covid-19 lockdown ended, DMRC data showed an average weekday daily ridership of 1.771 million between September 7, 2020, and May 9, 2021, and the average ridership on weekend was 1.296 million. During this period, Delhi Metro was allowed to function with only 50% seating capacity and strict enforcement of social distancing rules. The average daily ridership increased by around 50%following return to normalcy after the second lockdown -- the weekday ridership was 2.756 million between June 7, 2021 and February 27, 2022 and the weekend ridership during this period was 2.127 million. Delhi Metro operations were limited even in this period, with conditions, including 50% seating capacity and later, 100% seating capacity with no standing passengers, in force during the period. Anuj Dayal, principal executive director, corporate communications, DMRC, said passenger traffic has shown a steady increase, both on weekdays and weekends, following the lifting of all restrictions around Covid-19. “However, it is still less than the pre-pandemic levels,” said Dayal, adding that people were gradually gaining the confidence to move out during weekends for leisure. “The same is being reflected in the gradual increase in weekend journeys from around 1.2 million after the first wave to about 3.1 million now. If the pandemic remains within control, the number of journeys during weekends will surely increase further,” he added. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said multiple factors are likely to be in play at the moment, including the seasonal impact from the heat and Covid-19 related apprehensions, which has seen a number of people switch over to public transport. “Following the first wave, a lot of people returned to private vehicles and some have not returned to public transport. On weekdays, work from home may still be a part, but on weekends, it is possible people are not venturing out as much, in order to avoid congested places. Certainly, the heat is also playing a factor in Delhi at present,” she explains.

Sustainable Food Systems

Dramatic fall in organic fertiliser production in India from 2017-18 to 2020-21: CSE report

The Centre has initiated several schemes and programmes through which it promotes production and use of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers. In 2020-21, India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonne in 2017-18, a new report said adding that a targeted, ambitious, and well-funded nationwide programme is needed to drive the change towards organic and natural farming. The Centre has initiated several schemes and programmes through which it promotes production and use of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers. These schemes include those aimed at farmers to promote organic and natural farming such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-Eastern Region, National Food Security Mission and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm. “However, the sum total of funds spent on these schemes and programmes is dwarfed by the annual subsidy provided on chemical fertilisers. For example, the total organic farming practicing area covered under these schemes and programmes is only about 2.7 per cent of India’s net sown area of 140.1 million hectare,” said the CSE report State of Biofertilisers and Organic Fertilisers in India. Between 2018 and 2021, a sum of only Rs 994 crore was released for Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs 416 crore for the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeastern Region, and about Rs 4 crore for biofertilisers under the National Food Security Mission. Total subsidy on chemical fertilisers is steeply growing every year. In 2020-21, the annual subsidy bill was Rs 1,31,230 crore, which is more than 10 times the subsidy bill in 2001-02 (Rs 12,908 crore). The subsidy bill has grown sharply from 2019-20, when it was Rs 83,468 crore, partly due to rising international prices leading to higher subsidies on imported fertilisers. Providing details of production of organic fertilisers, the report mentioned that in 2017-18, Bihar led with 30 per cent production of organic fertilisers in India and was followed by Gujarat and Jharkhand. In 2018-19, Karnataka was the biggest producer of organic fertilisers, with a 94 per cent share in countrywide production. The state continued to be the leading producer in 2019-20, but its share dropped to 64 per cent. In that year, Andhra Pradesh had the second biggest share. In 2020-21, with a share of 63 per cent, Chhattisgarh led the countrywide production of organic fertilisers and Karnataka slipped to the second spot. In 2020-21, India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonne in 2017-18. The reasons for the steep fall in national production of organic fertilisers within a span of three years, or the manner in which state-wise shares in the total production have changed substantially between years, are not clear, the latest report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has pointed out. However, there are some things to look forward to. In 2020-21, the total production of liquid biofertilisers in India was about 26,442 kilolitres (kl), which marked a growth of about 552 per cent over the 2014-15 figures and when it comes to carrier-based solid biofertilisers, in 2020-21, India produced about 1,34,323 tonnes, a growth of about 435 per cent over the 2008-09 figure and 83 per cent over the 2018-19 figure. Pointing out that in 2017, India had 424 carrier-based solid biofertiliser manufacturing units and 108 for liquid biofertiliser manufacturing units, the CSE report said, “The production capacities are not optimally utilised by all states. There is also lack of compiled countrywide information on companies, registered biofertiliser products and authorisations given at the Central level.” Production and availability of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers must be ensured, and their use must be promoted through a multi-pronged approach by the Centre and states, the report recommended and suggested several steps to ease out the creases in the field. Biofertilisers are ready to use live formulates of beneficial microorganisms that on application to seed, root or soil mobilise nutrients through their biological activity in particular and help in building up the micro-flora and soil health in general. Organic fertilisers consist of decomposed organic material derived from animal, human and plant residues. They are of different types depending on the source of the organic material and nature of composting. For example, organic manure is a mix of cattle dung and plant residues, while vermicompost is developed with the help of earthworms.

Sustainable Food Systems

Organic Fertiliser Production Down to Just 3.88 Million Tonnnes from 338.72 Million Tonnes in FY17-18: CSE

Sustainable Food Systems

सीएसई : गत तीन साल में देश के आर्गेनिक उर्वरक उत्पादन में आयी तेज गिरावट

वर्ष 2017-18 में देश में आर्गेनिक उर्वरक का उत्पादन 33.87 करोड़ टन था, जो तेजी से गिरता हुआ वर्ष 2020-21 में मात्र 38.8 लाख टन रह गया। सेंटर फॉर साइंट एंड एन्वॉयरमेंट की ताजा रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, साल 2017-18 में देश में सबसे अधिक ऑर्गेनिक उर्वरक का उत्पादन बिहार में हुआ। कुल उत्पादन में बिहार का योगदान 30 प्रतिशत रहा, जबकि गुजरात दूसरे और झारखंड तीसरे स्थान पर रहा। वर्ष 2018-19 में बिहार को पीछे कर कर्नाटक ने बाजी मार ली और कुल उत्पादन में उसका योगदान 94 प्रतिशत रहा। इसके अगले साल भी कर्नाटक ही अव्वल रहा लेकिन इसका योगदान तेजी से घटकर 64 प्रतिशत रह गया। इस साल आंध्र प्रदेश उत्पादन के मामले में दूसरे स्थान पर रहा था। साल 2020-21 में छत्तीसगढ़ पहले स्थान पर रहा और कर्नाटक एक पायदान पीछे चला गया। इस साल छत्तीसगढ़ का योगदान कुल उत्पादन में 63 प्रतिशत रहा था। सीएसई का कहना है कि लेकिन इस दौरान देश में तरल जैव उर्वरक का उत्पादन 2014-15 की तुलना में करीब 552 प्रतिशत की तेजी के साथ वर्ष 2020-21 में करीब 26,442 किलोमीटर हो गया। इस दौरान करियर आधारित ठोस उर्वरक का उत्पादन भी वर्ष 2018-19 की तुलना में 83 प्रतिशत बढ़कर करीब 1,34,323 टन हो गया। सीएसई का कहना है कि वर्ष 2017 में देश में 424 विनिर्माण इकाइयां करियर आधारित ठोस उर्वरक बना रही थी जबकि 108 संयंत्र तरल जैव उर्वरक के उत्पादन से जुड़ी थीं। सीएसई का कहना है कि सभी राज्य उत्पादन क्षमता का ठीक तरीके से दोहन नहीं कर रहे हैं। इसके अलावा इन कंपनियों, पंजीकृत जैव उर्वरक उत्पादों आदि के बारे में देशव्यापी जानकारी सीमित है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक देश को आर्गेनिक और प्राकृतिक खेती की ओर ले जाने के लिये एक अच्छे फंड वाले राष्ट्रव्यापी अभियान की सख्त जरूरत है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, केंद्र सरकार ने जैव उर्वरक और आर्गेनिक उर्वरक को बढ़ावा देने के लिये कई योजनायें शुरू की हैं। इन योजनाओं में परंपरागत कृषि विकास योजना, पूर्वोत्तर क्षेत्र के लिये मिशन ऑर्गेनिक वैल्यू चेन डेवलपमेंट, राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अभियान और तिलहनों तथा पाम ऑयल पर आधारित राष्ट्रीय अभियान शामिल हैं। सीएसई का कहना है कि लेकिन इन सभी योजनाओं पर किया जाना कुल व्यय रासायनिक उर्वरक के लिये दी जाने वाली सब्सिडी के सामने नगण्य दिखता है। इन योजनाओं के तहत की जाने वाली ऑर्गेनिक खेती देश के कुल बुवाई क्षेत्र यानी 14 करोड़ हेक्टेयर की करीब 2.7 प्रतिशत हिस्से में ही होती है। साल 2018 से 2021 के बीच परंपरागत कृषि विकास योजना के तहत मात्र 994 करोड़ रुपये, मिशन ऑर्गेनिक वैल्यू चेन डेवलपमेंट के तहत 416 करोड़ रुपये और राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अभियान के तहत जैव उर्वरक के लिये मात्र चार करोड़ रुपये जारी किये गये। दूसरी तरफ रासायनिक उर्वरक के लिये दी जाने वाली सब्सिडी साल दर साल बढ़ती गयी। साल 2001-2002 में इस मद में 12,908 करोड़ रुपये की सब्सिडी दी जाती थी, जो दस गुणा बढ़कर 2020-21 में 1,31,230 करोड़ रुपये हो गयी।

Sustainable Food Systems

Dramatic fall in organic fertiliser production in India from 2017-18 to 2020-21: CSE report

In 2020-21, India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonne in 2017-18, a new report said adding that a targeted, ambitious, and well-funded nationwide programme is needed to drive the change towards organic and natural farming. The Centre has initiated several schemes and programmes through which it promotes production and use of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers. These schemes include those aimed at farmers to promote organic and natural farming such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-Eastern Region, National Food Security Mission and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm. "However, the sum total of funds spent on these schemes and programmes is dwarfed by the annual subsidy provided on chemical fertilisers. For example, the total organic farming practicing area covered under these schemes and programmes is only about 2.7 per cent of India's net sown area of 140.1 million hectare," said the CSE report State of Biofertilisers and Organic Fertilisers in India. Between 2018 and 2021, a sum of only Rs 994 crore was released for Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs 416 crore for the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeastern Region, and about Rs 4 crore for biofertilisers under the National Food Security Mission. Total subsidy on chemical fertilisers is steeply growing every year. In 2020-21, the annual subsidy bill was Rs 1,31,230 crore, which is more than 10 times the subsidy bill in 2001-02 (Rs 12,908 crore). The subsidy bill has grown sharply from 2019-20, when it was Rs 83,468 crore, partly due to rising international prices leading to higher subsidies on imported fertilisers. Providing details of production of organic fertilisers, the report mentioned that in 2017-18, Bihar led with 30 per cent production of organic fertilisers in India and was followed by Gujarat and Jharkhand. In 2018-19, Karnataka was the biggest producer of organic fertilisers, with a 94 per cent share in countrywide production. The state continued to be the leading producer in 2019-20, but its share dropped to 64 per cent. In that year, Andhra Pradesh had the second biggest share. In 2020-21, with a share of 63 per cent, Chhattisgarh led the countrywide production of organic fertilisers and Karnataka slipped to the second spot. In 2020-21, India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonne in 2017-18. The reasons for the steep fall in national production of organic fertilisers within a span of three years, or the manner in which state-wise shares in the total production have changed substantially between years, are not clear, the latest report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has pointed out. However, there are some things to look forward to. In 2020-21, the total production of liquid biofertilisers in India was about 26,442 kilolitres (kl), which marked a growth of about 552 per cent over the 2014-15 figures and when it comes to carrier-based solid biofertilisers, in 2020-21, India produced about 1,34,323 tonnes, a growth of about 435 per cent over the 2008-09 figure and 83 per cent over the 2018-19 figure. Pointing out that in 2017, India had 424 carrier-based solid biofertiliser manufacturing units and 108 for liquid biofertiliser manufacturing units, the CSE report said, "The production capacities are not optimally utilised by all states. There is also lack of compiled countrywide information on companies, registered biofertiliser products and authorisations given at the Central level." Production and availability of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers must be ensured, and their use must be promoted through a multi-pronged approach by the Centre and states, the report recommended and suggested several steps to ease out the creases in the field. Biofertilisers are ready to use live formulates of beneficial microorganisms that on application to seed, root or soil mobilise nutrients through their biological activity in particular and help in building up the micro-flora and soil health in general. Organic fertilisers consist of decomposed organic material derived from animal, human and plant residues. They are of different types depending on the source of the organic material and nature of composting. For example, organic manure is a mix of cattle dung and plant residues, while vermicompost is developed with the help of earthworms.

Sustainable Food Systems

Dramatic fall in organic fertiliser production in India from 2017-18 to 2020-21: CSE report

India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonne in 2017-18, a new report said adding that a targeted, ambitious, and well-funded nationwide programme is needed to drive the change towards organic and natural farming. The Centre has initiated several schemes and programmes through which it promotes production and use of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers. These schemes include those aimed at farmers to promote organic and natural farming such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-Eastern Region, National Food Security Mission and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm. "However, the sum total of funds spent on these schemes and programmes is dwarfed by the annual subsidy provided on chemical fertilisers. For example, the total organic farming practicing area covered under these schemes and programmes is only about 2.7 per cent of India's net sown area of 140.1 million hectare, " said the CSE report State of Biofertilisers and Organic Fertilisers in India. Between 2018 and 2021, a sum of only Rs 994 crore was released for Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Rs 416 crore for the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for Northeastern Region, and about Rs 4 crore for biofertilisers under the National Food Security Mission. Total subsidy on chemical fertilisers is steeply growing every year. In 2020-21, the annual subsidy bill was Rs 1, 31, 230 crore, which is more than 10 times the subsidy bill in 2001-02 (Rs 12, 908 crore). The subsidy bill has grown sharply from 2019-20, when it was Rs 83, 468 crore, partly due to rising international prices leading to higher subsidies on imported fertilisers. Providing details of production of organic fertilisers, the report mentioned that in 2017-18, Bihar led with 30 per cent production of organic fertilisers in India and was followed by Gujarat and Jharkhand. In 2018-19, Karnataka was the biggest producer of organic fertilisers, with a 94 per cent share in countrywide production. The state continued to be the leading producer in 2019-20, but its share dropped to 64 per cent. In that year, Andhra Pradesh had the second biggest share. In 2020-21, with a share of 63 per cent, Chhattisgarh led the countrywide production of organic fertilisers and Karnataka slipped to the second spot. In 2020-21, India produced 3.88 million tonnes of organic fertilisers, a dramatic decrease from 338.72 million tonne in 2017-18. The reasons for the steep fall in national production of organic fertilisers within a span of three years, or the manner in which state-wise shares in the total production have changed substantially between years, are not clear, the latest report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has pointed out. However, there are some things to look forward to. In 2020-21, the total production of liquid biofertilisers in India was about 26, 442 kilolitres (kl), which marked a growth of about 552 per cent over the 2014-15 figures and when it comes to carrier-based solid biofertilisers, in 2020-21, India produced about 1, 34, 323 tonnes, a growth of about 435 per cent over the 2008-09 figure and 83 per cent over the 2018-19 figure. Pointing out that in 2017, India had 424 carrier-based solid biofertiliser manufacturing units and 108 for liquid biofertiliser manufacturing units, the CSE report said, "The production capacities are not optimally utilised by all states. There is also lack of compiled countrywide information on companies, registered biofertiliser products and authorisations given at the Central level." Production and availability of biofertilisers and organic fertilisers must be ensured, and their use must be promoted through a multi-pronged approach by the Centre and states, the report recommended and suggested several steps to ease out the creases in the field. Biofertilisers are ready to use live formulates of beneficial microorganisms that on application to seed, root or soil mobilise nutrients through their biological activity in particular and help in building up the micro-flora and soil health in general. Organic fertilisers consist of decomposed organic material derived from animal, human and plant residues. They are of different types depending on the source of the organic material and nature of composting. For example, organic manure is a mix of cattle dung and plant residues, while vermicompost is developed with the help of earthworms.

Sustainable Food Systems