After the devastation of cashew plantations earlier this year, paddy farmers have become the next victims of erratic weather. The incessant October rains left Goa’s fields waterlogged and crops destroyed.
This worrying trend offers little encouragement for the next generation of farmers. Many young, educated Goans have shown interest in agriculture as both livelihood and heritage, but unpredictable weather is making farming an increasingly uncertain pursuit.
Climate change is no longer abstract ” it is visible in our fields, forests, and coasts. The question is not whether it is happening, but how we adapt our crops and methods to this shifting reality. Policymakers argue that reducing coal use and emissions will stabilise the climate and meet our Paris Agreement goals. While vital for the planet, emission cuts alone won’t quickly halt local weather extremes.
Adaptation on the ground is equally crucial. The solution lies in developing drought-resistant, flood-tolerant, and fast-maturing crops without compromising nutrition or relying heavily on genetic modification.
Agricultural research is moving in this direction. Farmers deserve access to climate-resilient seeds, accurate weather data, and scientific guidance ” essential tools to sustain their livelihoods amid growing uncertainty.
