Call for developing new varieties of crops to face global warming
Saturday, 8 November 2008
An international conference on climate change called upon agricultural scientists of the World to join hands to develop new strains of crops resistant to changes of global warming.
The two-day conference titled 'Climate Change, Biodiversity and Food Security in the South Asian Regions' was organized by Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST) and United National Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO.
Inaugurating it, Bikram Singh Majithia, Minister, Science Technology & Environment of Panjab said that there are reports in Scientific journals that the temperature of the earth could increase by 1o C to 6o C in the next fifty to hundred years. He said that this could lead to changes in freshwater availability, local & global weather conditions, food production, reduction of glaciers, flooding of coastal areas, increased burden of vector borne diseases and an increased incidence of natural disasters like floods and drought.
The Minister said that we should be prepared for bleak scenario when the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, that are fed by melting snow in summers would be affected if glaciers decrease. He said that this would affect availability of water for irrigation and affect productivity of crops.
The Science and Technology Minister said that every 1 C rise in temperature can reduce global wheat production by 4-5 millions tonnes. This can effect availability of food grains especially in poorer countries. He said that changes in temperature and humidity can also affect production and quality of vegetables, fruits, basmati rice and medicinal plants in northern regions of Asia and crops like tea, coffee and spices in southern regions. The Minister said that since insects, which are both, useful and or harmful for our crops, were also dependent upon temperature and humidity, their populations can also change, which could further affect agricultural productivity. He said that according to the studies yield of dairy cattle would decrease and fish breeding, migration and harvest could be affected due to change in climate. Global reports indicate loss of 10-40% to the farming sector by 2100. Similarly Impact on forests and health impacts would also e significant.
The Minister emphasized that government needed to gear up to meet the situation in socio-economic context of the state. He suggested that strategies for both mitigating green house gas emissions and adapting to expected changes to be defined and state plans and programs oriented accordingly.
Inaugurating the conference, Ms. Cecelia Barberi, representing UNESCO, New Delhi office highlighted the global importance of the subject especially in light of global economic meltdown and urged states in initiate immediate actions to prevent future economic crises which could result as damage to natural resources due to excessive anthropogenic pressures on the environment.
Er. M.S. Jaggi welcomed the participants. Dr. Ram Bhooj, Program Specialist, UNESCO emphasized on the need of capacity building and commitment of UNESCO in this regard to combat climate change. Dr. Neelima Jerath, Additional Director-Environment and organizing Secretary of the conference informed that the Govt. of India had prepared National Action Plan on Climate Change under which eight national Missions were being set up. These are National solar Mission, national Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission for Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission of sustaining the Himalayan Eco- system, national Mission for Green India, National Mission on sustainable Agricultural and National Mission on strategic knowledge for climate Change.
She informed that the state government needed to further extend these programs at the state level and prepare themselves for future challenges. Dr. S.P. Sharma. Advisor Ministry of Environment & Forests. Govt. of India highlighted the programmes initiated by the Central government to address climate change issues.
About 150 Scientist, environmentalists, representatives of government departments, NGO including 15 experts representing international organizations and scientist from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ghana, Iran and Pakistan are attending this conference.
The focus areas during this conference include effect of climate change on major ecosystems and biodiversity, food security , livelihoods and sociao-economic issues, economic challenges, CDM and carbon credit mechanisms, related to both agriculture & Industry, development of region specific strategies, policies and programmes, sustainable development and energy issues and future research agendas.
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Internet
The two-day conference titled 'Climate Change, Biodiversity and Food Security in the South Asian Regions' was organized by Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST) and United National Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO.
Inaugurating it, Bikram Singh Majithia, Minister, Science Technology & Environment of Panjab said that there are reports in Scientific journals that the temperature of the earth could increase by 1o C to 6o C in the next fifty to hundred years. He said that this could lead to changes in freshwater availability, local & global weather conditions, food production, reduction of glaciers, flooding of coastal areas, increased burden of vector borne diseases and an increased incidence of natural disasters like floods and drought.
The Minister said that we should be prepared for bleak scenario when the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, that are fed by melting snow in summers would be affected if glaciers decrease. He said that this would affect availability of water for irrigation and affect productivity of crops.
The Science and Technology Minister said that every 1 C rise in temperature can reduce global wheat production by 4-5 millions tonnes. This can effect availability of food grains especially in poorer countries. He said that changes in temperature and humidity can also affect production and quality of vegetables, fruits, basmati rice and medicinal plants in northern regions of Asia and crops like tea, coffee and spices in southern regions. The Minister said that since insects, which are both, useful and or harmful for our crops, were also dependent upon temperature and humidity, their populations can also change, which could further affect agricultural productivity. He said that according to the studies yield of dairy cattle would decrease and fish breeding, migration and harvest could be affected due to change in climate. Global reports indicate loss of 10-40% to the farming sector by 2100. Similarly Impact on forests and health impacts would also e significant.
The Minister emphasized that government needed to gear up to meet the situation in socio-economic context of the state. He suggested that strategies for both mitigating green house gas emissions and adapting to expected changes to be defined and state plans and programs oriented accordingly.
Inaugurating the conference, Ms. Cecelia Barberi, representing UNESCO, New Delhi office highlighted the global importance of the subject especially in light of global economic meltdown and urged states in initiate immediate actions to prevent future economic crises which could result as damage to natural resources due to excessive anthropogenic pressures on the environment.
Er. M.S. Jaggi welcomed the participants. Dr. Ram Bhooj, Program Specialist, UNESCO emphasized on the need of capacity building and commitment of UNESCO in this regard to combat climate change. Dr. Neelima Jerath, Additional Director-Environment and organizing Secretary of the conference informed that the Govt. of India had prepared National Action Plan on Climate Change under which eight national Missions were being set up. These are National solar Mission, national Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission for Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission of sustaining the Himalayan Eco- system, national Mission for Green India, National Mission on sustainable Agricultural and National Mission on strategic knowledge for climate Change.
She informed that the state government needed to further extend these programs at the state level and prepare themselves for future challenges. Dr. S.P. Sharma. Advisor Ministry of Environment & Forests. Govt. of India highlighted the programmes initiated by the Central government to address climate change issues.
About 150 Scientist, environmentalists, representatives of government departments, NGO including 15 experts representing international organizations and scientist from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ghana, Iran and Pakistan are attending this conference.
The focus areas during this conference include effect of climate change on major ecosystems and biodiversity, food security , livelihoods and sociao-economic issues, economic challenges, CDM and carbon credit mechanisms, related to both agriculture & Industry, development of region specific strategies, policies and programmes, sustainable development and energy issues and future research agendas.
.............
Internet