' WARMER' LEH GROWS NEW CROPS.RISING temperature, widely believed to be because of climate change, is not only making glaciers recede but is also changing crop patterns in this highland cold desert. While sowing of barley in April and May is affected because of late flow of glacier water by mid- June, farmers are also finding new vegetable varieties growing in their terraced fields. " For the past 10- 15 years, there was no water in time and sowing was delayed," said Phunchor Thaishi, a barley farmer from Stakmo village. " Earlier, we grew only knol khol ( turnip turnip, garden vegetable of the same genus of the family Cruciferae (mustard family) as the cabbage; native to Europe, where it has been long cultivated. The two principal kinds are the white (Brassica rapa) and the yellow (B. ) and beans," said Kunzes Dolma dol·ma n. pl. dol·mas or dol·ma·des A fruit or vegetable, especially a grape leaf or cabbage leaf, cooked with a filling of ground meat, herbs, or rice. [Turkish, filling.] , 57. The vicepresident of a local action group called Women's Alliance of Leh added they were now growing brinjal and capsicum capsicum /cap·si·cum/ (kap´si-kum) a plant of the genus Capsicum, the hot peppers, or the dried fruit derived from certain of its species (cayenne or red pepper), containing the active principle capsaicin; used as a . The group is now undertaking a household survey to see how the locals perceived and adapted to climate change. Previous studies have shown that 60 to 90 per cent of the people in different parts of Leh noticed changes in climate patterns. Winters and summers are becoming warmer. The minimum winter temperature has gone up by a degree Celsius and the summer maximum by half a degree, going by local meteorological data compiled by the NGO NGO abbr. nongovernmental organization Noun 1. NGO - an organization that is not part of the local or state or federal government nongovernmental organization , Geres India. It could be a small change in Leh's temperature graph, but it means a lot for precipitation and plant life. " Earlier, we could not think of growing wheat in the Ladakh region," said Tundup Angmo, Geres India programme coordinator. " But now, in Aksho and Ating villages in the Zanskar valley, people are growing wheat." Closer to Leh, people are experimenting with vegetables such as pumpkins and broccoli, Angmo said. " Is it because of the climate or is it just a fad? But anecdotal evidence anecdotal evidence, n information obtained from personal accounts, examples, and observations. Usually not considered scientifically valid but may indicate areas for further investigation and research. shows tomatoes are getting ripe and red easily now." Divisional forest officer B. Balaji said the forest department had taken note. The afforestation efforts included hardy shrubs such as seabuckthorn, apart from poplar and willows. Deputy commissioner Ajeet Kumar Sahu said climate change is a priority as it could possibly involve changes in river flow, precipitation and potential natural hazards. But he sees a positive side too -- flowering of some highland plants well before spring arrived in the plains. Copyright 2009 India Today Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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