Apprehensions about climate continue to rise, despite our limited ability to make precise assessments of its impact. This is partially due to the complexity of chemical and physical processes at various scales and also due to confounding factors from other changes such as air pollution.

An assessment of the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems in India has been attempted with the forest vulnerability index for India - worked out on the basis of forest canopy density, biodiversity and projected impact of climate change.

The urban environment of modern India has undergone dramatic changes predominated by concrete structures, congested commercial spaces and incessant traffic. The degeneration of living environment in urban areas has severely disrupted the balance of urban climate as tree cover is eliminated to make way for ‘development’.

Forests are one of the most significant reservoirs of carbon. Various global processes and anthropogenic changes are influencing the process of carbon sequestration leading to interruptions in the carbon flux. Under elevated CO2 conditions a possibility of decomposition occurring more than net primary production leading to a loss of carbon is predicted in the forest regions of India.

The adoption of a Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Integrated Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (FAO, 2007), will be a challenge for India considering the high poverty levels prevalent in the coastal communities involved in traditional fishing. The lack of suitable alternate income generating options for them makes these communities highly vulnerable to future changes. Thus an effort to reduce their dependence on fishing is essential.

Climate change impact in the Sunderban ecoregion with rising sea level and accelerated coastal erosion is already evident in the Mousani Island and Namkhana, Bermajur and Sandeshkhali Blocks in the Sunderban. This is increasingly disrupting the production processes and the livelihoods of communities. It is thus essential to pave way for sustainable aquaculture practices that may help balance ecological processes and development at the same time.

Agriculture credit is a loan or extension of credit provided by a bank for agricultural or allied rural use – one of the most crucial inputs for agricultural development.

With the onslaught of green revolution and now the advent of genetically modified species, traditional seed culture practices are slowly but surely dying-out. India’s vast biodiversity in terms of indigenous agricultural landraces require to be revived to ensure conservation and ultimately food security.

Genetic Modification is a process by which DNA of an organism can be altered to synthesise a new, usually better or more efficient version of the original organism. The breakthrough in science was initiated particularly in the field of agriculture, to improve crop protection through the use of one of the three basic traits: resistance to insect damage; resistance to viral infections; and tolerance towards herbicides. But, like all new technologies, GM crops also pose certain apprehensions and risks, both known and unknown.

The Indian agricultural scenario is experiencing a series of changes since the green revolution. Here is a brief essay that outlines concepts of how agricultural calculations are undertaken - agricultural productivity and efficiency, crop combination, degree of commercialisation, diffusion of innovation and more, to help comprehend the agricultural scenario with lucidity.