Vulnerability of Temperate Fruit Production to Climate Change: Adaptation and Mitigation Measures: A Review

Climate change refers to a statistically significant variation in either the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer). As per United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), change of climate is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time period. The earth’s climate, although relatively stable over the past 10,000 years or so, has always been changing, mainly due to natural causes such as volcanic activity. However, since the second half of 20th century more rapid change has taken place, which has been attributed mainly due to human activities. Plausible climate change scenarios include higher temperatures, changes in precipitation, and higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Temperate region of the country, comprising mainly north-west and north east Himalayan region has witnesses a dramatic change in climate over the past 30 years, where adverse effect of climate change on temperate fruit production has been noticed. The carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulpherdioxide, etc. form greenhouse gas (GHG) pools in the atmosphere. Increase in the concentration of these gases is responsible for global climate change. According to Inter Governmental Panel on climate Change (IPCC), the climate is defined as the average weather, or more rigorously, as the statistical description of the weather in terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over periods of several decades (typically three decades as defined by Meteorological Organization). These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind, but in a wider sense the climate is the description of the state of the climate system. Global climate change and increasing climatic variability are recently considered a huge concern worldwide due to enormous emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and its more apparent effect on fruit crops because of its perennial nature. The changed climatic parameters affect the crop physiology, biochemistry, floral biology, biotic stresses like disease pest incidence, etc. and ultimately resulted to the reduction of yield and quality of fruit crops. So, it is big challenge to the scientists of the world. Mitigation is the most important measures to reduce the devastating effect of climate change.