The New Nation - Internet Edition

SPEAKING as chief guest at a seminar in the city recently on 'Climate change and soil science', President Iajuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh is relentlessly working with both national and international forums to face 'adverse effects' of climate change as it's one of the countries vulnerable to global warming. Various adverse effects on ecosystem, agricultural production, soil and water degradation due to climate change and rise in sea level have already been observed. The President referred to the forecast made by environmental scientists saying world's poor countries, especially the island states and those at the coastal belts would be affected badly due to climate change.

The world community has already raised their voice to face the challenges as climate has become so erratic that countries like Bangladesh have already started experiencing the adverse impacts. Delayed arrival of winter this year has damaged cash crops like mustard, onion, lentils, potato and tomato with diseases as sprawling fields of such plants have been affected by pests. Located between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

is most vulnerable to climate change and the country's farmers may face serious difficulties in overcoming the effects of the global warming. Farmers go for cultivation of cash crops so that they can invest the proceeds in 'Boro' crop that requires higher investment.

The meteorological department has already given warnings to the agricultural extension department and has asked for taking precautionary measures to protect crops by spraying anti-fungal chemicals on potato and tomato, if necessary. Delay of winter hampers fruiting of the winter crops. Warm weather causes pest attacks and disease even resulting in sterility. Though extreme changes are noticeable nowadays, Bangladesh does not have adequate data to properly assess manifestations of climate change.