Officials along with the participants during the commencement of the 10-day short course on “Climate-Smart Agriculture: Tools and Techniques for Biotic and Abiotic Stress Management” on Wednesday at the Medziphema campus of Nagaland University.
Medziphema, March 18 (MExN): A 10-day ICAR-sponsored short course on “Climate-Smart Agriculture: Tools and Techniques for Biotic and Abiotic Stress Management” was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Medziphema campus of Nagaland University.
The programme, organised by the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding under the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), will be held from March 18 to 27 with support from the Agricultural Education Division of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Emphasising the urgency of addressing climate change, Course Director Prof H P Chaturvedi highlighted the objectives of the programme and stressed the importance of climate-resilient agriculture.
“Climate change is a burning issue, and this programme is designed to equip agricultural professionals, including scientists, assistant professors and associate professors working in agriculture and allied sciences, with the latest tools and techniques to effectively cope with its challenges,” he said.
He noted that the course focuses on three key aspects of climate-smart agriculture — productivity, adaptation and mitigation.
“We are working towards enhancing productivity through improved practices, building resilience in crops against stresses like drought, heat and floods, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions for sustainable development,” he added.
Chaturvedi further stated that the course integrates both theoretical and practical learning, including field visits, to provide participants with hands-on exposure to climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The programme began with an invocation, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by dignitaries.
A felicitation ceremony was held for the chief guest, Prof V K Vidyarthi, In-charge Pro Vice-Chancellor, SAS, Nagaland University, along with Prof K K Jha, In-charge Dean, SAS; Prof H P Chaturvedi, Head of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding; and Dr Anthony, Deputy Registrar, SAS, Nagaland University.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof K K Jha highlighted the role of such training programmes in strengthening the knowledge base of students and researchers.
In his address, the chief guest underscored the need to adopt climate-smart agricultural strategies to address biotic and abiotic stresses, appreciated the initiative and encouraged active participation.
The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions featuring expert lectures.
Prof Bireswar Sinha spoke on integrated disease management for climate-resilient agriculture, highlighting sustainable approaches, while Dr Amod Sharma discussed the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and food security in India.
Dr S Naresh Kumar from the Division of Environmental Science, IARI, elaborated on climate change and the need for adaptive strategies in agriculture.
The course aims to equip participants with advanced tools and techniques to enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability in the face of climate variability.
The programme witnessed active participation from students, researchers and professionals, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and academic interaction.
