Impact of climate change on arid lands agriculture

It is anticipated that the impact of climate change will cut across all boundaries. Crops, cropping systems, rotations and biota will undergo transformation. To maintain the balance in the system, there is a need for new knowledge, alternative policies and institutional changes. The marginalized people in dry areas are likely to be most seriously hit by the shifts in moisture and temperature regimes as a result of the global climate change. To help them cope with the challenges, there is a need for a new paradigm in agricultural research and technology transfer that makes full use of modern science and technology in conjunction with traditional knowledge. This necessitates more investment by international agencies and national governments for supporting the relevant integrated research and sustainable development efforts, with full participation of the target communities. Only such an approach can enable the vulnerable communities of the dryland areas to use the natural resources in a sustainable manner and thus help protect the environment for future generations.The clock is ticking and the future of the world lies in the collective responsibility and wisdom of all nations on this planet. This should be reflected in the endorsement of a solid future plan.Our planet is figuratively 'on fire'. The increase in global temperature is evident (Figure 1). The reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly indicate that the temperature has increased and it is anticipated to increase further in the future unless measures are taken [1,2]. What was projected to happen by the year 2100 is going to happen earlier than expected. The melting of the glaciers and disappearing ice sound an alarm as to what might come in the future.In addition to the raised temperatures, there is going to be a rise in seawater level (Figure 2), which will have grave implications for countries whose lands are at elevations similar to sea level. For example, nearly 1,800 km of