HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 25: Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that in view of the visible impact of climate change and its effect on land and agriculture, Assam Agricultural University should work on research based innovative measures to address the phenomena.
Inaugurating an international conference on – ‘Biodiversity, Food Security, Sustainability and Climate Change’ in Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in Jorhat on Tuesday, Governor Kataria said that entire agricultural fraternity across the world is focusing on sustainability of agriculture sector for feeding the burgeoning population. In view of this it is of paramount importance for agricultural institutions like Assam Agricultural University to take responsibility and indulge in research based innovative solutions to address biodiversity, food security, sustainability and climate change.
The Governor said that climate change has created havoc on the planet, with nations uniting to combat this urgent concern. As the population is growing rapidly, land is increasingly getting scarce, and it is incumbent upon the AAU and its stakeholders to implement innovative measures through research to address this problem. He also said that swift action needs to be taken in response to the myriad diseases that have arisen as a result of climate change.
Governor Kataria also advocated for a solution in the form of natural farming to address food security in the face of climate change. Kataria also said that climate change is a global problem and humanity is already experiencing its impacts. The rising temperature and erratic rainfall pattern are the immediate fallouts resulting from increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions like flood and drought. The consequences of aberrant climate change are immensely affecting every sector of economy leading to increasing pressure on the earth.
The Governor said that the impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity are very severe on the developing countries with a major chunk of the rain-fed land being exposed to natural vagaries. The livelihoods of small farmers who mainly live on rain-fed farming are in dire stress. The Governor said that economic, environment and social implications of climate change and its adverse impact on nature need to be analysed in depth and urged upon the scientific body of the conference to set an agenda and contribute significantly to address this issue.
Kataria also said that rain plays an important role in farming, and the north-east region of India is blessed in this regard. The AAU must devise ways to empower farmers to cultivate their land round the year with climate resilient crops. He also exuded confidence that the conference serves as an ideal platform to discuss and suggest action-oriented measures to address the impact of biodiversity, food security, sustainability and climate change.
The Governor also stressed that the university should inspire its students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture. He hailed Assam Agricultural University for it had already signed an MoU for a biodiversity restoration project on Agro Eco Tourism through climate smart agriculture with Govt of Assam in Kaziranga National Park. The University also signed a MoU with TERI, New Delhi for tree plantation and carbon trading programme.
It may be mentioned that the conference has been jointly organised by Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat and Prof. H.S. Srivastava Foundation for Science, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh, India as part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of College of Agriculture an important constituent College of Assam Agricultural University.
Later, the Governor convened a meeting with the officials of the Assam Agricultural University, during which the vice chancellor provided an overview of the university’s various colleges, research scholars, alumni, MoUs with different organizations, and online distance learning initiatives.
Vice chancellor, AAU Dr Bidyut Deka, director general International Rice Research Institute Dr Balié, director general Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir attended the conference virtually, vice president, PHSS Foundation Dr Raghuram, president Organising Committee Dr Deka, teachers, scientists of AAU along with a host of other dignitaries were also present at the inaugural function.
