What is a potential risk to cotton farming posed by climate change?

The correct choice highlights a significant risk to cotton farming associated with climate change: altered rainfall patterns and increased temperatures.

Changes in climate can lead to unpredictable weather, with some regions experiencing less rainfall while others might face heavy downpours, affecting soil moisture levels and crop yields. Increased temperatures can stress cotton plants, impacting their growth and development. This combination of altered rainfall and higher temperatures can result in diminished quality and quantity of cotton produced, making it a critical concern for farmers in adapting their practices and maintaining productivity.

In contrast, enhanced access to farming technology, stabilization of global markets, and a reduction in the need for irrigation are not likely risks associated with climate change. Instead, they represent potential benefits or unrelated factors that could help mitigate some challenges faced by farmers, but they do not directly address the negative impacts of climate alterations on cotton agriculture.