Water-related impacts on agriculture due to climate change: a review with reference to Kerala.

Abstract

Climate change has arisen as the most pressing global challenge of the 21st century. The impending challenges may be associated with water resources management. Water-related impacts due to climate change areranging from water scarcity to intense floods. The stateof Kerala has witnessed severe floods inthelast two years owing to Extreme Rainfall Events (ERE), among which the prominent ones arethe events thatoccurred in August 2018. The extent of human and livestock mortalities, crop damages and economic lossesdue to the floods was enormous. This paper critically reviews the scientific studies and reports on impacts of climate change which profiting generalists bothered with environmental challenges. The article highlights the need for water conservation, risk management, and the development of mitigation measures to cope withthe water-related impacts of climate change on agriculture.