VAIBHAV Summit: Session on Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation Technologies

8^th October 2020

Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit, a collaborative initiative by S&T and Academic Organisations of India enables deliberations on thought process, practices and R&D culture with a problem-solving approach and bring collaborations.

In this pursuit, the session on Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation Technologies, conducted was conducted today. The aim of the session was to discuss the scientific and technological gaps for achieving climate resilient and evergreen sustainable agriculture. The technological options, opportunities and collaboration needs were also discussed.

In his welcome address, Dr Ashok Kumar Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI outlined the contributions of Indian scientists in the science of climate change and agriculture.

The session was chaired by Dr Brahma Singh, a Padmashree award winning scientist, Co-Chaired by Dr B. Venkateswarlu, Former Vice-Chancellor, VN Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani; Ex Director, ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad and Dr S. Bhaskar, Assistant Director General, ICAR. The Session was coordinated by Prof Soora Naresh Kumar, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute.  

The overseas panellists included Prof PV Varaprasad from Kansas State University, USA; Prof Dev Niyogi from University of Texas, USA and Uday Nidumolu from CSIRO, Australia. Scientists from various Institutions in India also participated as panelists.

The major recommendations were:

• To initiate research collaborations to develop integrated models, tools, climate services with high resolution seasonal forecasts for serving farm level advisories.
• To develop a National databank for by giving infrastructure status to data.
• To initiate collaborative research proposals for developing innovative farm technologies for sustainable intensification of agriculture.
• To develop energy efficient small farm implements, deep sea fishing activities among many others, sensors for monitoring and for use in IoT, use of AI and data analytics.
• To develop the student and scientist exchange programmes, sandwich MSc/ PhD programmes with overseas reputed labs, involving visiting NRI scientists for training young scientists and students in Indian labs.
• These discussions will be taken forward in multi-stage engagements for collaborations and actions for seamless implementation.

The month long VAIBHAV virtual summit was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 2nd October 2020, on Mahatma Gandhi birth day, in the virtual presence of academia and researchers from across the world and is planned to be concluded on 2nd November after month-long deliberation sessions through webinar mode.

(Source:  ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi)