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Climatic Variability and Crop Yields in the Semi-Arid Tropics

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Book cover Food-Climate Interactions

Abstract

The climates of the semi-arid tropics are characterized by high incidence of solar radiation, high temperatures and very variable rainfall. Droughts and floods are both common occurrences. Deficient rainfall years may be followed by similar years or years with excess rainfall in no predictable pattern.

Rainfed farming is risky in such conditions and farmers are reluctant to invest in crop production. Traditional agriculture means low but stable yields, low inputs, mixed cropping, large families, low incomes and living standards and outmigration of family members, both seasonal and permanent. Only about 4% of the arable land of the semi-arid tropics is irrigated.

Farmers try to ameliorate the effects of drought through crop management. If the first crop fails they may plant a second or a third. When all crops fail farmers and their families must decrease their food intake, sell movable assets or their land. Without government intervention many people may migrate or even starve.

New technologies now exist that reduce the risks of farming in the rainfed semi-arid tropics. The technologies include improved soil and water management on watershed-based land units, the use of fertilizers and improved seeds, improved cropping systems and supplementary irrigation. The productivity of traditional agriculture is declining and the threat of serious food shortages is rising but the potential for the semi-arid tropics to feed itself in all but the driest years does exist. Institutional and infrastructural improvements will be necessary for this potential to be reached.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Crops Research, Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, India

    L. D. Swindale, S. M. Virmani & M. V. K. Sivakumar

Authors
  1. L. D. Swindale
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  2. S. M. Virmani
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  3. M. V. K. Sivakumar
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Applied Climatology and Environmental Studies, University of Münster, Germany

    Wilfrid Bach

  2. Federal Environmental Agency, Berlin, Germany

    Jürgen Pankrath

  3. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, USA

    Stephen H. Schneider

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© 1981 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland

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Swindale, L.D., Virmani, S.M., Sivakumar, M.V.K. (1981). Climatic Variability and Crop Yields in the Semi-Arid Tropics. In: Bach, W., Pankrath, J., Schneider, S.H. (eds) Food-Climate Interactions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8563-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8563-6_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-277-1354-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8563-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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