Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Climate Smart Agriculture Organized

18 August 2022, Ludhiana

ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana organized “Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Climate Smart Agriculture” today to invite experiences and perspectives of different stakeholders on climate smart agriculture for cross learning.

During the address, Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management) and the Chief Guest of the dialogue praised farmers and researchers of Punjab for pioneering the agricultural innovations in the country. He highlighted major achievements in the field of agriculture and called for action on environment and ecosystem management along with economics and entrepreneurship. The DDG stressed on better management of water resources and called for diversification of crops for sustainable agriculture.  Dr Chaudhari talked about recent events of weather aberrations and their impacts on crop and domestic animals. He urged farmers to take necessary measures based on the experts’ advice to minimize losses due to such adverse events.

Dr. Ashok Kumar, Director of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana emphasized on need for deploying precision agricultural technologies and drone technology for better utilization of farm inputs. He highlighted the role of climate smart technologies for ensuring sustainable productions and minimizing losses.

Dr. Sujay Rakshit, Director, ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana urged the farmers to adopt maize farming and follow knowledge intensive modern technologies.

Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale, Director, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana emphasized on the processing and value addition technologies available for the farmers.

Earlier, Dr. Rajbir Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana, elaborated the objective of the dialogue and briefed adverse impact of heat wave 2022 in the northern states of the country. He emphasized the need for clear strategy and vision that is necessary for the agriculture in the region in the wake of climate change. Dr Singh urged to work in tandem with all the stakeholders for better implementation and mobilizing additional funds for the project activities.

The dialogue witnessed deliberations from more than 120 participants including Scientists and Experts from ICAR institutes, State Universities and KVKs along with Sarpanches, innovative farmers and rural youth from intervention villages.

 During the program, a preparedness workshop for crop residue management was also organized. Thorough discussions were held among the participant and the action plans of crop residue management for all the KVKs were finalized.

A publications titled “Heat Wave in Northern India: Farmers’ Perspective” was released by the Chief Guest during the dialogue.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana)