Jan 30, 2023
Recently Rumin8, an Australian climate technology start-up that aims to curtail the methane emissions of cow burps received funding worth $12 million from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Livestock plays an important role in the Indian economy, but do they also contribute to climate change? Explain. (150 words, 10 marks)
Also Read: What is Urban Farming in India?
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News Source: The Indian Express
Since 1980s, the pre-industrial times, Methane has accounted for roughly 30% of global warming and is proliferating faster than at any other time. In fact, according to data from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, even as carbon dioxide emissions decelerated during the pandemic-related lockdowns of 2020, atmospheric methane shot up.
Stomachs of ruminant animals have four compartments, one of which, the rumen, helps them to store partially digested food and let it ferment. This partially digested and fermented food is regurgitated by the animals who chew through it again and finish the digestive process. The fermentation procedure in the rumen generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas, mainly through burping.
India has vast livestock resources. The livestock sector contributes 4.11% of the GDP and 25.6% of the total Agriculture GDP. Livestock provides livelihood to 2/3rd of the rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8% of the population in India.
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