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Ragi – The Climate Change Warrior

Updated: Feb 24

Highlights:

  • Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events negatively affect the yields of major crops like rice, wheat, and maize, threatening food security.

  • With its drought and heat tolerance, short growing season, and soil-improving properties, Ragi is a promising solution for sustainable agriculture in a changing climate.

  • India can improve its food security by encouraging the cultivation and consumption of ragi.



Ragi - The Millet Superhero
Ragi - The Millet Superhero

Climate change has emerged as a significant threat to global food security, with its effects particularly pronounced in agrarian economies like India[1]. As the most populous country, India’s agricultural sector is crucial in feeding its population and sustaining its economy. However, the changing climate—characterized by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increased frequency of extreme weather events—poses a formidable challenge to crop yield and food production, particularly for staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize.



The Problem with Rice, Wheat and Maize



Rice, Wheat & Maize yields are susceptible to climate change.
Rice, Wheat & Maize yields are susceptible to climate change.


  • Impact of Climate Change on Rice Production

Rice, a staple for a majority of the Indian population, is highly sensitive to temperature changes and water availability. The crop thrives in warm, wet conditions, but excessive heat can drastically reduce yields, primarily due to adverse effects on spikelet fertility[2,3]. Furthermore, inconsistent monsoons—the primary source of irrigation for rice—have disrupted planting schedules. Insufficient or inopportune rainfall results in water stress, while excessive rainfall leads to flooding, both of which adversely affect crop productivity[4]. Coastal rice-growing regions are also at risk from rising sea levels and salinization of soil, further endangering yields[5,6].


  • Wheat Production Under Threat

Wheat, another important cereal crop in India, is particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures during its critical growth stages. The crop’s yield potential is maximized under cool, dry conditions; however, unseasonal heatwaves, lead to a reduction in grain number and weight, poor grain quality with smaller grain size, and myriad other physiological and biochemical disruptions[7]. A decline in wheat yields would pose a severe risk to global food security[2].


  • Challenges for Maize Cultivation

Maize is grown extensively as food, fodder, and feed. It is a valuable cash crop that is highly sensitive to climate change, endangering global food supply[2]. As a rain-fed crop, maize is susceptible to water deficit stress in the form of prolonged dry spells or droughts negatively affecting biomass production[9]. Higher temperatures also exacerbate pest and disease outbreaks, further threatening maize yields[10]. In recent years, incidents of fall armyworm infestations have increased, linked to changing climatic conditions.



Agriculture – a victim and a culprit of climate change



Rice, Wheat & Maize cultivation contribute to climate change.
Rice, Wheat & Maize cultivation contribute to climate change.

Agriculture is both a victim of climate change and a significant contributor to it. Indian agriculture contributes 14% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the country[11]. Among the many factors influencing global warming, the cultivation of staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize stands out due to its substantial environmental footprint[12,13]. These crops form the backbone of global food security, but their production processes have unsavory repercussions on climate change.


Rice cultivation is one of the largest agricultural sources of methane emissions. Methane, a GHG far more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat, is released during the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in waterlogged paddy fields[14]. According to Government of India data, in India, rice cultivation contributes 3.97 teragrams of methane annually[15]. Paddy fields contribute 4-6% of worldwide methane emissions each year. Additionally, the extensive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and water for irrigation further worsens the environmental impact, depleting natural resources and contributing to nitrous oxide emissions, another potent GHG[16].


Wheat and maize production are highly dependent on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery powered by fossil fuels significantly increasing the carbon footprint of cultivation. The extensive application of nitrogen-based fertilizers in maize farming contributes to nitrous oxide emissions, which are nearly 300 times more effective than carbon dioxide at warming the planet[17,18]. Additionally, deforestation leads to soil erosion and release of carbon into the atmosphere. Furthermore, industrial wheat and maize farming frequently employ monocropping systems thereby degrading soil health and reducing its carbon sequestration potential.



Ragi - the millet superhero to the rescue


Ragi, also known as finger millet, is one of the oldest crops in India. Traditionally a staple in Africa and Asia, ragi is gaining global recognition as an eco-friendly crop with the ability to withstand various climatic conditions.


Ragi is a true champion in mitigating the challenges of climate change. Here's why:


  • Survival during droughts and waterlogging: Ragi thrives in arid and semi-arid regions from northern hills to southern plateaus with limited rainfall. Its deep root system helps the crop access deep water pockets in the soil and survive during droughts[19]. In addition, the root system helps improve aeration by developing aerenchyma tissue aiding plant survival in waterlogged conditions[22].


  • Heat Tolerance: Ragi can withstand high temperatures up to 42°C and prolonged periods of heat stress, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming. The crop can even survive temperatures up to 47°C with significant reductions in chlorophyll and water content[23].


  • Lower Carbon Footprint: Ragi crop positively impacts soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen and reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers thereby lowering its carbon footprint[21].


  • Short Growing Season: Ragi crop matures within 100-130 days[24]. Its shorter lifecycle makes it an ideal crop for cultivation in regions with unpredictable precipitation patterns.


  • Carbon Sequestration: Carbon sequestration is defined as a process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It helps reduce the effect of global warming. Studies showed that the cultivation of millets such as ragi, when cropped with legumes showed the highest carbon sequestration potential[25].

 

 

Conclusion:


Climate change poses a significant threat to staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize in India. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events are severely impacting yields and jeopardizing food security. Furthermore, the cultivation of these crops contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis.


However, ragi or finger millet has surfaced as a promising climate-resilient alternative. Ragi's drought and heat tolerance, short growing season, and ability to improve soil health make it a valuable crop for sustainable agriculture in a changing climate. By promoting the cultivation and consumption of ragi, India can enhance its food security, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.

 

So, why wait? Discover the goodness of ragi for yourself. Try our Ragi Millet Mix today!




References:


  1. Pathak, H. (2023). Impact, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change in Indian agriculture. Environ Monit Assess 195, 52.

  2. Zhao, C. et. al. (2017). Temperature increase reduces global yields of major crops in four independent estimates, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 114 (35) 9326-9331

  3. Li. S., Fleisher. D.H., Barnaby. J.Y. (2024). Quantifying the impact of climate change and extreme heat on rice in the United States. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Volume 355, 110145, ISSN 0168-1923.

  4. Bonou, A., Egah, J., & Aihounton, G. B. D. (2024). Impact of floods on rice production in West Africa: Micro-evidence from Benin. Sustainable Environment, 10(1).

  5. Zhang, R., Wang, Y., Hussain, S., Yang, S., Li, R., Liu, S., Chen, Y., Wei, H., Dai, Q., & Hou, H. (2022). Study on the Effect of Salt Stress on Yield and Grain Quality Among Different Rice Varieties. Frontiers in plant science, 13, 918460.

  6. Genua-Olmedo, A., Alcaraz, C., Caiola, N., & Ibáñez, C. (2016). Sea level rise impacts on rice production: The Ebro Delta as an example. Science of The Total Environment, Volume 571, Pages 1200-1210, ISSN 0048-9697

  7. Farhad, M., Kumar, U., Tomar, V., Bhati, P.K., Krishnan, J. N., Kishowar-E-Mustarin, Barek, V., Brestic, M., & Hossain, A. (2023) Heat stress in wheat: a global challenge to feed billions in the current era of the changing climate. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 7:1203721.

  8. Markos, D., Worku, W. & Mamo, G. (2023) Exploring adaptation responses of maize to climate change scenarios in southern central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Sci Rep 13, 12949.

  9. Sah, R.P., Chakraborty, M., Prasad, K. et al. Impact of water deficit stress in maize: Phenology and yield components. (2020) Sci Rep 10, 2944.

  10. Chávez-Arias C.C., Ligarreto-Moreno G.A., Ramírez-Godoy A. and Restrepo-Díaz H. (2021) Maize Responses Challenged by Drought, Elevated Daytime Temperature and Arthropod Herbivory Stresses: A Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular View. Front. Plant Sci. 12:702841.

  11. Chachei, K. (2024). Greenhouse gas emissions in the Indian agriculture sector and mitigation by best management practices and smart farming technologies—a review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 44489–44510

  12. Zhang, D., Shen, J., Zhang, F. et al. (2017) Carbon footprint of grain production in China. Sci Rep 7, 4126.

  13. Shahid, M., Mohanty, S., Munda, S., Chatterjee, D., Khanam, R., Priyadarsani, S., Tripathi, R. and Nayak, A.K. (2024). Sustainable Rice-Based Cropping Systems: Strategies to Minimize Environmental Impact. NRRI Research Bulletin No. 56, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack – 753006, Odisha, India, pp 30.

  14. Badr, O., Probert, S.D., O'Callaghan, P. W. (1991) Atmospheric methane: Its contribution to global warming, Applied Energy, Volume 40, Issue 4, Pages 273-313, ISSN 0306-2619,

  15. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (2024) Pioneering Breakthrough Toward Net Zero Emissions in Agriculture: ICAR-NRRI Scientists Develop Novel formulation of Methane-oxidising Bacteria isolated from Sundarban mangroves for climate change mitigation.

  16. Timilsina, A., Bizimana, F., Pandey, B., Yadav, R. K. P., Dong, W., & Hu, C. (2020). Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Paddies: Understanding the Role of Rice Plants. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(2), 180.

  17. Fagodiya, R. K., Pathak, H., Bhatia, A. et al. (2019). Nitrous oxide emission and mitigation from maize–wheat rotation in the upper Indo-Gangetic Plains. Carbon Management, 10(5), 489–499.

  18. World Bank Group (2024). Metadata Glossary – Nitrous Oxide Emissions.

  19. Rankel, K. (2024) All About Your Finger Millet’s Roots. Greg App.

  20. Samtani, R., Mishra, S. S., Bandyopadhyay Neogi, S. (2024) Millets: Small grains, big impact in climate action, The Journal of Climate Change and Health, Volume 20, 100345, ISSN 2667-2782

  21. Mock, A., et al. (2024) Nitrogen Fixation of lablab and Finger Millet in South-India. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 2024;187:225–232.

  22. Kulkarn, S.S., and Chavan, P.D. (2014). Study of Effect of Waterlogging on Root Anatomy of Ragi and Rice. American Journal of Plant Physiology, Vol. 9, 46-51

  23. Singh, S., Khan, S., Padaria, J. & Solanke, A. (2018). Evaluation of Finger millet as heat tolerant crop using physiological and biochemical assays. Journal of AgriSearch. 5.

  24. Singh, S., Pandey, M. and Chaudhary, S. (2023). Millets: Forgotten Grains Regaining Prominence. P. K. Publishers & Distributors, Delhi, India. ISBN: 978-81-19428-75-5

  25. Kuyah, S., et al. (2023). Grain legumes and dryland cereals contribute to carbon sequestration in the drylands of Africa and South Asia. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. Volume 355, 108583, ISSN 0167-8809

 
 
 

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