MINSK, 10 January (BelTA) – Recommendations on ways to adapt agriculture to climate change are being developed in Belarus, BelTA learned from Svetlana Kuzmich, Deputy Head of the National Center for Hydrometeorology, Radioactive Pollution Control, and Environmental Monitoring of the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, at a press conference.
The official said: “We are working on the matter of adapting to climate change. The need to adjust the time for sowing and harvesting operations is part of the work.” In her words, the timing of some other farming operations needs to be adjusted as well.
Since climate change goes beyond simply rising air temperatures to include droughts, which happen more frequently in Belarus now and can begin as early as April, the matter of working out recommendations for Belarusian farmers requires a systemic approach. “In particular, we are talking about possible irrigation or afforestation of territories to change water supply in these areas. The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is working on it now,” Svetlana Kuzmich said.
Specialists have already done some work in one of the districts in Gomel Oblast. The resulting report with recommendations on adapting the territory to climate change was submitted to the government. Among other things the report suggests growing thermophilic and drought-resistant plants in addition to taking water-retaining measures.
