BWI: TERI Organizes a Brainstorming Session Commemorating the Birth Anniversary of Late Dr. B P Pal for his Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Agricultural and Horticultural Research

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Monday, May 30, 2011 01:17 PM IST (07:47 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Environment, Food & drink, People; Business: Agriculture, Energy companies, Media & entertainment; Technology
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TERI Organizes a Brainstorming Session Commemorating the Birth Anniversary of Late Dr. B P Pal for his Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Agricultural and Horticultural Research
Integration of New Technologies the need of the hour to achieve Sustainable Agriculture Practices for Food and Nutritional Security

New Delhi, Delhi, India, Monday, May 30, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) organized a Brainstorming Session on Sustainable Agriculture Practices for Food and Nutritional Security today commemorating the birth anniversary of the Late Dr. B P Pal, revered for his outstanding contributions in the field of agricultural and horticultural research. Issues related to Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Integration of New Technologies for augmenting food production formed the subject matter of discussions.

The workshop focused on an urgent need to increase the yield of crops through application of new technologies, to develop designer crops through better seeds, use of molecular tools in future crop improvement and application of traditional biotechnologies for improving productivity and nutritional quality which will help the country and farmers at a time when prices of agricultural commodities across the globe are on an unprecedented increase.

Addressing the gathering and remembering Late Dr BP Pal, a thinker beyond his times, Dr RK Pachauri, Director General TERI said, "Today there is an urgent need to chalk out a comprehensive plan to revitalize Indian agriculture using the latest available technology tools. A systematic reorientation right from the policies, institutional credit, agri marketing to the extension services is required so that we have an agricultural system which is more sustainable and less water dependent in a rain-fed setup. This would not only be essential for ensuring healthy economic growth in the country but also for improving the livelihoods of farmers in rural India."

Dr. Swapan Kumar Datta, DDG (CS) ICAR, a well known plant biotechnologist, involved in research collaboration on application of genomics and gene technology for crop improvement with public and private organizations, in his inaugural address at the memorial lecture said, "Today with the coupled challenges of climate change, there is an immediate need to have in place a PPP model that will boost sustainable agriculture practices and technologies, and make it available to farmers. This will not only impact the social-economic levels of farmers but will been a boon to more than 30 percent of the Indian population that is effected by malnutrition, hence providing food and nutritional security."

The phenomenal growth in Agriculture sector propelled by implementation of Green Revolution technologies and allied practices worldwide in mid twentieth century was an outcome of the commitment of few visionaries towards the society in achieving eradication of poverty and alleviation of food scarcity, hunger and malnutrition. Following the success, agriculture tended to be less of a focus until in recent years where we witness agriculture once again gaining eminence with a clear-cut public perception about science and rural distress. Amongst others, sustainability issues now pose serious challenges in the next juncture of agricultural growth. While the developing countries attempt to tackle issues pertaining to sustainability of resource use, the developed economies attempt at redeeming agriculture from overuse of chemical inputs. There is a pressing need to disengage from the input intensive agriculture and shift to sustainable farming. Even as the need for radically changing the growth strategy through sustainable agriculture practice have been well recognized, the transition from input intensive to sustainable agriculture is faced with intrinsic problems and difficulties. Nevertheless, sustainable agriculture themes have become central issues to be addressed by policy makers and leaders. Especially in light of WTO obligations and the global trade liberalization regime, it is vitally important that Indian agriculture ensures its sustainability for the benefit of the present and future generations.

The workshop also addressed the criticality of realizing in intelligent utilization of natural resources and managing trained human resources towards modern biotechnological practices. Contemporary research in agri-biotechnology provides unique solutions for combating challenges posed by environmental stresses that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Designer crops exhibiting traits that expand adaptability without compromising on over-all fitness of a plant species are being generated and tested for their efficacy. Agriculture sector is also set to leverage from environment friendly sustainable production of agricultural goods and nutritionally enhanced food crops.

Thanking the guests for participating Dr Vibha Dhawan, Executive Director TERI in her closing remarks said, "There is some urgency in finding ways to improve agricultural productivity in a sustainable way; connect farmers to the markets; increase access to nutritious crops at affordable price and make agriculture profitable for large number of people in India. We anticipate to bring out a road map through the discussions from today's brainstorming session focusing on food and nutritional security."

The workshop had the presence of subject experts from TERI, NHB, ICAR, DBT Global AgriSystems Pvt. Ltd, PI Industries Ltd., IRRAD, Bharat Krishak Samaj, ABLE, Rasi Seeds, NBPGR, and Monsanto.

About Dr B P Pal

Dr B P Pal (1906-1989) a great scientist, institution builder is venerated for laying the foundations of India's Green Revolution in post independence times through focused translation of knowledge driven research into field performance by implementation of sound agriculture strategies. Dr B P Pal was the first Indian Scientist to become the Director of Indian Agriculture Research Institute, and later the first Director General of Indian Council of Agriculture Research. The vision and mission of Dr B P Pal was subsequently carried forward by other leading research scientists resulting in stupendous increase in aggregate supply of food grains, affording food security to the growing population. India later evolved into a food surplus nation from a food deficit one solely through the dedicated efforts of such nation builders as Dr B P Pal.

About The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

From microbiology to global climate change, from smoke-filled rural kitchens to plush corporate boardrooms, from schoolchildren to heads of state-no sphere of human endeavour is unfamiliar to TERI. Headed by world-renowned economist and Nobel Prize winning climate scientist, Dr R K Pachauri, TERI is best described as an independent, not-for-profit research institute focused on energy, environment, and sustainable development and devoted to efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.


CONTACT DETAILS
Mr. Rajiv Chhibber, TERI - The Energy and Resources Institutes, +91 9810426698, rajivc@teri.res.in

KEYWORDS
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD, PEOPLE, AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY

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