Impact of climate change and COVID-19 pandemic on citrus industry

Long-term shifts in weather of a particular region refers to climate change. Now the climate change is no longer a regional phenomenon. It has assumed global proportions and all countries are affected. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But mainly since the 1800s, human activities, growing population and industrialization have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas on one hand and destroying green cover/vegetation/forests on the other. US Environmental Protection Agency defines carbon sequestration as the process through which carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is absorbed by trees, plants and crops through photosynthesis, and stored as carbon in tree trunks, branches, foliage and roots (biomass) and also in soils. The term “sinks” is also used to refer to forests, croplands, and grazing lands, and their ability to sequester carbon. Agriculture and forestry activities can also release CO2 to the atmosphere. Therefore, a carbon sink occurs when carbon sequestration is higher than carbon released during the same period. Technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation is the need of the hour. Covid-19 pandemic disrupted citrus production and trade but citrus fruit and juice consumption has increased.