Be ready to grow climate smart crops: Swaminathan

CHENNAI: Underlining that the state's agriculture and water security depended on proper management of the northeast monsoon, professor M S Swaminathan on Wednesday suggested measures for managing the monsoon in the context of agriculture.
"I hope the potential calamity of a poor northeast monsoon will be converted into an opportunity for spreading climate resilient agriculture," said Swaminathan adding that the immediate requirement is of the preparedness to grow alternate climate smart crops in case of water shortage for good samba rice crop."Among the steps needed are the introduction of climate smart millets, pulses and varieties like satimaize ( 60 day crop)."
Applauding the draft model law introduced by the union government to conserve water and and increase the use of treated water for non-potable purposes, Swaminathan said the law had to be sanctioned also at micro level.