An important round table discussion on 'Climate Resilient Agriculture Technologies for Islands' was held on May 15, 2024 at the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) in Port Blair. The event, organized in collaboration with the Technology Innovation Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, gathered key stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to combat climate change impacts on island agriculture.
Prof. Pradeep Srivastava, Executive Director of TIFAC, underscored the critical nature of the meeting. He highlighted the strategic goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2047 and stressed the imperative to develop innovative, energy-efficient technologies to lower energy consumption.
Dr. Sammi Reddy, Director of the ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management in Baramati, focused on the importance of adopting climate-resilient technologies tailored to island ecosystems. He called for meticulous planning and the implementation of contingency plans to ensure the adaptation of agricultural systems to climate variations.
Highlighting resource depletion, Dr. Gauranga Kar, Director of the ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers in Barrackpore, emphasized the necessity of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to address future climate change challenges.
Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, emphasized the institute's commitment to addressing the unique challenges of island ecosystems through the development of climate-resilient crop varieties, advanced technologies, and policy interventions.
The discussion featured keynote addresses on various critical topics, including the adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies, abiotic stress management, the integration of renewable energy sources in agriculture, and specific climate-resilient technologies for islands.
