Ideation Workshop for Young Professionals held at ICAR, Umiam
An ‘Ideation cum Capacity Building Workshop’ for Young Professionals on Opportunities and Risks of Mountain Farming in Changing Climate was held under “National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem” (NMSHE, Task force-6) at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam. The two days’ workshop began today (29th March 2016). Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India is the funding agency for the project. A total of 55 participants comprising young scientists, research fellows, line departments, subject matter specialists, NGO members participated in the training from all the North Eastern states. The participants include young scientist and young professional who will be the torch bearers to take the project forward.
To sustain the ecological landscape of the Himalayan region the NMSHE has been commenced with active participation ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam and its regional centres in all NEH states and the National Research Centres (NRC) on Yak (Dirang), Pig (Rani) and Mithun (Jharnapani). The aim is to assess the vulnerability of Himalayan agriculture, to identify critical vulnerabilities of low input agriculture agro- ecosystems of the Indian Himalayas, to identify suitable measures which may be propagated within the Himalayan farming community.
The motive of the “Ideation cum Capacity Building Workshop for Young Professionals on Opportunities and Risks of Mountain Farming in Changing Climate” was to generate new and innovative ideas to propagate within the Himalayan Farming community for sustaining mountain farming while conserving natural resource base. The training witnessed an innovative session in which the participants would engage themselves in generating ideas and have a brainstorming session to build up the ideas after each interactive lectures delivered by the resource persons. Feedback and inputs were received from the particiapnts on priority, hurdles, prognosis, noble thoughts and
The inaugural session began with the welcome address by Dr. Arnab Sen, Principal Scientist, and head, Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam. Speaking on the occasion he gave a brief about the project its need and the importance. He further added that intellectual inputs will fulfill the intention of the workshop. The meeting was chaired by Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam who spoke how through the project, capacity of the farmers can be built and sustainable agriculture can take place. Dr. Ngachan gave a detail account of mountain farming and introduced the challenges and opportunities of mountain farming to the trainees. A team of scientist spoke during the inaugural session and briefed about the aims and objectives of the workshop. Dr. K.P. Mohapatra, Senior Scientist (Forestry) elaborated the importance and the need of the project at the strategic time when there is much emphasis on climate change and its impact on agriculture. Dr. Satish Chandra, Principal Scientist and Head, Crop Protection Division stressed on the needs for managing pest and diseases in hill farming in changing climate. Dr. A.K. Tripathi, Principal Scientist and Head, Social Sciences laid emphasis on the community development through the capacity building. The technical session will see series of presentations, interaction and group discussions. Finally a strategy will be developed to deal climate change for sustaining hill and mountain farming. The meet ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Anup Das, Senior Scientist & Head (Crop Production), ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam.
