Dr. K.M. Bujarbaruah Vice Chancellor, AAU, Jorhat inaugurates the 21 days “Summer School” on “Conservation Agriculture” at ICAR, Umiam
To ensure food security to the nation in a sustainable manner, conservation agriculture (CA) is the need of the hour today. CA has opened new paradigm and has the potential to improve land quality, provide multiple ecosystem services and sustain productivity. To develop the capacity of scientific, teaching and extension personnel’s in various aspects of CA, a 21 days summer school on “Conservation Agriculture for Enhancing Resource Use Efficiency and Arresting Land Degradation” sponsored by ICAR, Delhi is being organized at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Umiam, Meghalaya. DR. K.M. Bujarbaruah, Honorable Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat was the chief guest and Dr. SV Ngachan, Director, ICAR Complex, Umiam presided the inaugural programme on 19 August, 2015. A total of 25 trainees from all over India and about 50 scientist and researchers from the Institute, College of Post Graduate studies, Zonal Project Directorate and NBPGR regional station were a part of the inaugural program.
The inaugural session began with the welcome address by Dr AS Panwar, Head, Division of Crop Production while brief outline and objectives of the programme was presented by Anup Das, Senior Scientist & Course Director of the training. Addressing the trainees, Dr. GC Munda, Former Head, NRM Division said that the trainees should get the maximum out of the training and implement the positive aspects of conservation agriculture in their respective areas. Dr. AK Triptahi, Zonal Project Director emphasized on skill development in emerging areas of CA and at the same time he asked trainees to get acquainted with the rich indigenous practices for resource conservation such as Zabo system in Nagaland. DR. K.M. Bujarbaruah, Vice Chancellor, AAU, Jorhat speaking on the occasion said that a massive awareness program is needed to spread the positive aspect of CA which encompasses three basic principles such as minimal soil disturbance, managing top soil through residue management and pest and disease management through rational crop rotation. The ideal condition will be to integrate CA principles with other natural resource management and food production system such as watershed management, farming systems, organic farming etc. DR. S.V. Ngachan, Director of the institute added that CA encompasses a holistic approach for sustainable agriculture. He further emphasized that trainees should convert challenges into opportunities and promote CA amongst farmers. He stressed on Farmers’ Fist Policy of ICAR, Attracting and Retaining Rural Youths in Agriculture (ARYA) and “my village my pride” programme of Govt. of India which has been recently declared by Honourable PM, Narendra Modi in his Independence Day Address.
Emphasis of the 21 days training will be on cross learning on various aspects of CA including climate resilient agriculture, carbon-sequestration, greenhouse gas emission etc. by eminent resource persons from within and outside the north-eastern region of India. In addition, practical sessions and field visits to various land use models, experiments on CA, watersheds and advanced facilities will be organized to develop capacity and confidence of the trainees.
The course will deal with CA, its importance, concepts, principles etc. Opportunities and constraints of conservation practices in various cropping systems, carbon sequestration and mitigation of climate change, integrated farming systems including for food and environmental security, organic farming, agroforestry models for arresting land degradation, pest and disease management strategies under CA systems, managing livestock and fishery in changing climate will be the part of the training. Field visits will be also organized for practical exposure of the trainees.
A group of 5 members from the scientific community of ICAR namely Dr AS Panwar, Dr. DJ Rajkhowa, Dr. KP Mohapatra, Dr. Ramkrushna GI, Scientist and Dr. Jayanta Layek, were the course coordinators. Dr. KP Mohapatra Senior Scientist (Forestry) offered the vote of thanks.