PAU TO ORGANIZE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON \'PREPARING AGRICULTURE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE\' ON FEBRUARY 6-8

LUDHIANA, DECEMBER 27:------



The world, especially the southern hemisphere, could see a significant drop in agricultural productivity as a result of climate change. this was stated by the PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, who is the Chairman of the National Organization Committee. He added that agricultural losses related to climate change are expected to hit developing countries hard, as agriculture employs a substantial number of people and contributes greatly to economic growth. Moreover, poverty in developing world is largely rural with a major proportion of the population dependent on agriculture, he said. The Green Revolution of 1970s and 1980s to a large extent increased food grain productivity and increased rural incomes. However, recent agricultural growth rates in countries like India are far below the growth rates of other economic sectors. Thus unlike in developed countries, the adverse impact of climate change on agriculture will disproportionately affect the poor, observed Dr Kang. To develop a consensus global view on whether climate-resilient agriculture technologies mitigate the effects of climate change, a three-day international conference of eminent farm scientists and climatologists will be organized at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana from February 6-8, 2011. The themes of the conference will include: 1) agriculture: abettor and sufferer, 2) mitigation strategies – policy and management interventions, 3) adaptation strategies: genetic options/interventions, and 4) climate change and biodiversity: extinction and new emergence, informed Dr Kang.



Dr Allah Rang, Chairman of the Local Organization Committee said that the event is being held under the auspices of the Crop Improvement Society of India, whose headquarters are located at PAU, Ludhiana. The conference will comprise invited plenary and symposium presentations and conclude with a panel discussion on \'Directed adaptation to climate change and role of long-term forecasting models\'. There will be symposium lectures by experts on the first two days, he said. A session will be devoted to selected contributory posters from bright young scientists and students.



The first Session will be chaired by Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, a World Food Laureate . Dr Bikram Gill, an internationally renowned scientist will also share his experiences, said Dr Rang. Dr Daniel Hillel of the Columbia University, Center for Climate Systems Research, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, will speak on \'Climate change and sustainability of existing farming systems\'. Dr Sumana Bhatacharya, National Expert Consultant, Winrock International, New Delhi, will deliberate on "Climate change projections and global circulation models".

Session-II will be chaired by Dr Rattan Lal from School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, USA, who will also deliver a lecture on \'Intensive Agriculture and carbon dynamics\'. Dr Upmano Lall, Earth and Environment Engineering, Culumbia University, and Dr Dinesh Benbi, National Professor at PAU will speak on \'Water future and climate change\' and \'Land use changes and agriculture related methane emission.

In another Session, Dr Tej Pratap, Vice-Chancellor SKAUST, Srinagar, (J&K) will discuss \'Agricultural ecosystems with a special reference to hilly areas\' while Dr Robert Norton, Regional Director Australia and New Zealand, International Plant Nutrition Institute, Horsham, Australia will speak on "Agronomic practices and input-use efficiency"

Prof. M.S.Swaminathan, will discuss \'Climate change: What it means for Indian agriculture and national food security\' and Dr William Dar, International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, India, will have his views on "Reduced productivity and global food security". Dr Ramesh Chand, The National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NCAP), New Delhi will delve on \'Reforming rice- wheat farming systems\'.

In another Session to be chaired by Dr Kang, Dr Sanjay Sharma, Biotechnology Division, Institute of Himalayan Bio-resources Technology, Palampur, will enlighten the participants about \'Understanding altered molecular dynamics\'. The \'Genetic manipulations for crop adaptation\' will be discussed by PAU biotechnologists. Dr Toby Hodgkin, Global Partnership Programme, Biodiversity International, Rome, Italy will speak on \'Reaping the benefits of climate change\' and \'Adaptation options: in-situ and ex-situ conservation of biodiversity\'. Dr Martin Barbetti, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Australia will speak on "Pathogens and diseases". Experts will dwell on \'Directed adaptation to climate change and role of long-term forecasting models\'.


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