Changing rainfall patterns boost Karnataka agriculture, study finds
Shifting precipitation across the Western Ghats has increased rainfall in interior regions while coastal areas have seen a decline, according to a study.
A study by the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, shows that changing rainfall patterns in the Western Ghats have benefited agriculture and horticulture in Karnataka's interior regions. The research, presented by Agrometeorology Scientist Dr MB Rajegowda, notes that while interior areas receive more rain, coastal regions and the western slopes of the Ghats have seen a decrease.
According to The New Indian Express, Karnataka's average annual rainfall rose from 1,140mm between 1901–1950 to 1,208mm between 1950–2008. However, regional variations are significant. Annual rainfall in the coastal region fell from 4,500mm to 4,000mm, and the Western Ghats saw a drop from 4,010mm to 3,680mm.
In contrast, North Interior Karnataka recorded an increase from 640mm to 740mm, while South Interior Karnataka rose from 685mm to 836mm. The study suggests that rising land and atmospheric temperatures affect how clouds move, directing them toward the eastern side of the Ghats and into the interior.
These shifts have coincided with an expansion in farming. Agricultural land grew from approximately 50–60 lakh hectares in the 1950s to 100–105 lakh hectares by 2020. Production rose from 40–50 million tonnes to 130–135 million tonnes, while horticultural production reached 180–185 million tonnes.
The study also noted that industrialisation, urbanisation, and other development activities have impacted forest density in the Western Ghats. It projected that Karnataka's average annual rainfall could reach 1,235mm during 2020–2035, with interior regions expected to receive more rain as coastal levels decline.