Global Agri Connect 2018 on ‘Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies & Innovations’

With the advent of 21st century and in the wake of Modern as well as Smart Agriculture Practices, the need of the hour is to be in pace with the changing needs. Accordingly, the National Skills Foundation of India (NSFI) has organized the Global Agri Connect 2018 on an important theme - Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies & Innovations: Impact & Way Forward. 

Hon`ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Radha Mohan Singh in his message appreciated the NSFI initiatives as the theme of the conference is timely in the wake of serious effects the changing climate impacting on us. The need of the hour is to equip the farming community with the right technologies and innovations to counter and win-over the effects that the changing climate is posing." I understand that a number of organizations in India are working relentlessly to bring out innovative technologies. However, to make farmers aware of the available technologies and methods is very important", he said.  

Accordingly, Dr. A K Singh, DDG (Ag. Extn.) & Director ICAR-IARI (Addl. Charge) opined that India is mainly a country of villages and farmers. Any impact on agriculture not only affects farmers but also the country as a whole, erratic weather including unseasonal rains, dry spells, floods, heat waves, etc. are alternatively experienced across the country. Devastation takes away the hopes of millions who seek remedies to overcome the unforeseen climatic upheavals. 

He further added that the technological options and innovations emerging need to be adapted for different agro-ecosystems.  

Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, IAS, Additional Secretary, Dept of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare blessed the organizers and advised the participants the need and working together in the welfare of the farmers and farming community narrating the Government Schemes viz. Soil Health Cards and also given away the examples also that how the Government is pursuing these for the betterment.  

The programme was well knitted and started with the welcome address by Shri Sanjeev Asthana, Chairman, NSFI and then Dr P K Joshi, Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) given the special address and emphasized the need of such conferences in the wake of the food security in the year 2030 and 2050. Followed by Shri Shantanu Mitra, Senior Climate & Environment Advisor, DFID, Asia also given an account of the climate change and how the environment is affected and their pressure on the farmers.  

A Knowledge Report on the issue was also inaugurated for which an introduction to the same was presented by the Senior President & Global Head- FASAR, Yes Bank Shri Nitin Puri. Concluding the Inaugural session Shri N Sai Krishna, CEO, NSFI thanked all the participants and the people who were able to present their experiences and addressed to the delegates.  

The Session was divided into the four sections with the themes of the Renewable Energy in Climate Smart Agriculture: Means & Making with the presentation of the Ms. Nidhi Pant of the S4S Technologies, Tauseef Shahidi of CEEW, Ms. Sonal Adlakha of Claro Energy Private Ltd., Shri Suyog Patel of Sangam Ventures presented the needs of the funds in these ventures. Followed by the Panel discussion by Bhawanjeet Singh, Chief GM of  EESL, Ms. Arpit Srivastava of Tata Power with Ms. Sangita Ladha, VP of Jain Irrigation Systems and Shri Hemendra Mathur, of Bharat Innovation fund. The second session was devoted to the Women at the short end of the Climate change: Discourse and action wherein Rizwan uz Zaman, Ruchi Jain, Vishwas Gupta, and Pradip Kr Mohapatra given the presentations followed by the panel discussion. Shri Vishwas Gupta also spoke to the Krishi Jagran YouTube Channel further emphasizing his view point in Hindi for the viewers at large. 

The third and fourth sessions were on the enabling climate resilient agriculture from policy to practice and the corporate sustainability and contribution to climate resilience with the technical presentation and the panel discussion.  The German and the Brazil agriculture experts with the FPOs and farmers from Haryana and other parts of the country also participated.  

Krishi Jagran was the Media Partner of the event and its team met the Chairman Shri Sanjeev Asthana and CEO Shri N Sai Krishna who gave a brief introduction about the overall programme and also told about the future strategy in a separate discussion. Those interested may visit Krishi Jagran You Tube Channel for more information.