Kashmiri farmers work in a rice field on Oct. 6. A lack of snowfall during winter means many farms in the Kashmir Valley now have insufficient water supplies. (Photo by AFP)
Small landholder Shakeel Ahmad Wani has little hope he will have a rice crop this year due to a very dry winter in the Kashmir Valley in the northern Indian Jammu and Kashmir state.
After being hit by severe floods in 2014, Wani was desperate for a better harvest this year on his small farm but "we were wrong," he told ucanews.com.
This winter season of November-February failed to bring the expected snowfalls or rain to the upper reaches of the valley. On Feb. 24, Kashmir witnessed its hottest day for the month in 76 years as the mercury rose to 20.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar district, more than 10 degrees above normal for this time of year.
Environmental experts like Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo say the continued dry spells could lead to adverse impacts on farmers who cultivate grains and fruits.
Romshoo, former head of the Earth Sciences Department at the University of Kashmir, told ucanews.com that snowfalls are the main source of water in the valley.
"More than 70 percent of the valley's reservoirs thrive on snow streams only. Less snowfall can result in acute water shortages which have actually been witnessed over the past few years," Ramshoo says.
For thousands of farmers like Wani, no snowfalls mean no crops. "It will affect our livelihood. Only God knows what will happen to us," Wani says.
G. A. Bhat, who teaches environmental sciences at Kashmir University, told ucanews.com that the horticulture industry provides livelihoods for some 30 percent of Jammu and Kashmir state's 12 million population. Farm losses would hit the state hard, he predicted.
Mushtaq Ahmad, president of Fruit Growers Association, told ucanews.com that due to the dry spell, this year's fruit cop will affect the amount and size of fruit plus will also damage the trees.
Abdul Gani, a fruit grower, said unless the situation improves it will bring on financial ruin for his enterprise. "Our lives depend on fruit production and if such weather patterns continue, it is going to snatch our lives," Gani told ucanews.com.
Imran Nazir, a research scholar at Kashmir University, says climate change was increasing due to a whole range of reasons such as population growth, depletion of natural resources and accelerated pollution.
"Climate change has posed a major threat to the pace of development due to increased frequency and intensity of hydro metrological hazards such as floods, droughts, heat waves, cyclones and storms," Nazir said.
Caritas programs
The Catholic Church's social service wing Caritas India is launching a climate change awareness program for Kashmir's farmers.
While there aren't many Christians in the state, Caritas works for anyone in need of help, says Altaf Lone who assists Caritas in Kashmir.
He says the agency's program aims to make farmers aware about what measures can be taken when there are drastic weather changes in the valley.
Lone said the programs would be held in all far-flung areas of Kashmir valley where people would be trained about ways to face climate change.
Some 5.5 million people in Kashmir region are almost entirely Muslim. Christians make up a negligible 0.3 percent in the state and live in the Jammu area. Hindus, who form some 60 percent in Jammu area, dominate its 4.5 million people. Buddhists dominate the Ladakh region.