ICAR organizes training on ‘Adaptation and mitigation options for climate resilient agriculture’
Climate change and climatic variability is now a reality. The impact of climate change on agriculture is being witnessed in different countries of the world. Countries like India are more vulnerable to climate change in view of huge population directly depend on agriculture, with low coping mechanisms. Rising temperatures and extreme events, such as sudden droughts and floods, mean that it will be even harder to meet the growing demand for food, fiber and fuel, especially for poor countries with high population growth. Climatic aberrations will seriously affect the poorest section of the society who heavily relied on climate-sensitive sectors such as rainfed agriculture and fisheries. Reduction in crop, livestock, and fishery productivity due to climate change /climatic variability is well predicted and there are variations in perceptions about the intensity and consequences of climate change.
The North Eastern region of India is highly vulnerable to climate change and climatic variability. The region is facing intermittent drought and flood very frequently since the last decade of the 21st century. The NE region faced worst drought in 2009 and severe flood in 2012 that affected the agriculture and general economy adversely. Apart from 2-3 waves of critical floods every season, the plains of Assam is facing worst forms of river bank erosion from the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries. In order to sustain agricultural productivity, development/evaluation of stress tolerant crop varieties as well as livestock breeds with appropriate management practices are of immense importance. In the context of climate variability in NE region, adoption of suitable soil and water management practices, rainwater harvesting and its efficient utilization, agroforestry interventions, organic farming, conservation agricultural practices, location specific nutrient management practices (INM, IPM), shelter, feeding and health management in livestock are some of the adaptation and mitigation options to minimize the impact of climate change on agriculture. To develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change, the ICAR has initiated National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project country wide in 2011 and the ICAR Research Complex NEH Region is also an important collaborator of this project.
NICRA aims at tackling multiple biotic and abiotic stresses on crops, fisheries livestock, Poultry and natural resources including soil, water and bio-diversity. The objective of the program is identification of temperature, drought and other biotic and abiotic stress tolerant varieties/breeds of crops/livestock/fish for northeastern hill ecosystem. Development of mitigation and adaptation strategies through soil and water management practices for climatic resilient agriculture and understanding and exploiting the climate-ready traits in pig and poultry and development of data base.
In order to disseminate identified climate resilient technologies, a training programme on capacity building is being organized for the scientists and extension personnel engaged in agriculture sector at NE region from April 21-30, 2015. The main objective of this upcoming training is to strengthen the knowledge base of the teacher, researcher and extension personnel about climate change and variability, its possible impact on agriculture as well as available options for adaptation and mitigation to climate change with particular reference to North East India.