Awareness Programme on "Climate Change and Contingency Planning on Weather Extremes in Mizoram"
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram Centre, Kolasib, Mizoram organized a one day awareness programme on "Climate Change and Contingency Planning on Weather Extremes in Mizoram" under National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) on 22nd September 2014. Dr. S.B. Singh, Joint Director, ICAR, Mizoram Centre, Kolasib paid a warm welcome to the participants and the officials. He emphasized on the initiation and importance of this awareness programme with respect to agriculture production in relation to climate change scenario. He also emphasized on the effect of climate change in agriculture and importance of pulses and tuber crops (yam, colocasia, tapioca and other tuber crops) as adaptation measures in Mizoram. Guest of Honour, Mrs. Maria C.T. Zuali, Director, State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) briefed the various causes of climate change particularly on the increase of greenhouse gases and its effect in the atmosphere. She also stated that deforestation, exploitation of forest resulted in the considerable increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which calls for an immediate action in cropping systems and pattern. Chief Guest, Mr. Jitender Yadav (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Kolasib district, Mizoram urged the participants not only to depend on the scientists to undertake steps in mitigating climate change and its impact and he also stated that it is the sole duty of all the citizens. The programme was followed by distribution of certain inputs such as chicks, mineral mixture, seedlings, seeds, water pumps and sprayers to 65 farmers from different parts of Mizoram. Dr. T. Boopathi, Scientist (Agricultural Entomology), ICAR, Mizoram Centre, Kolasib delivered a vote of thanks followed by technical sessions. 40 officials from line departments including Joint Director (Horticulture), Deputy Director (Horticulture) and District Officers from Departments of Veterinary, Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil and Water Conservation, Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Mizoram participated the awareness programme. Programme Coordinators and Subject Matter Specialists from 9 KVKs including KVK Hailakandi, Core faculties from State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Govt. of Mizoram, Kolasib also participated the awareness programme.
There were seven presentations in the awareness programme. Dr. Saurav Saha, Scientist (Agril Physics) delivered on the recent trends of climate in Mizoram and importance of contingency planning for food security and rural livelihood of NE India, Dr. Lungmuana, Scientist (Soil Science) delivered on the need to conserved soil and soil carbon to increase soil health and reduce the atmospheric carbon and ways to mitigate through manipulation of soil, Dr. Lalhruaipuii, Scientist (Veterinary Microbiology) delivered on scientific management of pig and poultry under changing climate, Dr. S.K. Datta, Scientist (Horticulture) delivered on impact of climate change on horticultural production and management, Dr. T. Boopathi, Scientist (Agricultural Entomology) delivered on effect of climate change on crop pest dynamics and their management and Dr. A.R. Singh, Scientist (Plant Pathology) delivered on disease outbreak and their management in Mizoram due to climate change. A farmers-scientists interaction and field visit was also organized as part of the programme.
