National stakeholder’s Workshop held at CRIDA, Hyderabad from 19th-20th September2011

National stakeholder’s consultation workshop on climate change platform was held at CRIDA, Hyderabad to assess the current status and to formulate the road map for the 12th Plan.
Climate change impacts on Agriculture are being witnessed all over the world, but countries like India are more vulnerable in view of the huge population dependent on agriculture and allied sectors. Coping with climate change is critical for agriculture to sustain 4 percent growth rate. Agriculture s one of the eight missions identified by Prime minister’s National action plan for climate change. Indian Council of Agricultural research identified climate change as one of the 20 high priority platforms for 12th plan. Stake holders of the workshop included representatives from ICAR institutions, State agricultural Universities, Veterinary and fisheries Universities and non Governmental organizations. Objective of the programme was to create a platform for research, knowledge dissemination and knowledge management in the areas of impacts of climate change in Agriculture and allied sectors.
Back ground
National Project on Climate Change was started as an ICAR network project during the 10th plan period(2005), Climarice(Norway), World Bank (2009), NGOs(Oxfam,DA), ICRISAT, IWMI and ACCER are doing pioneering research in the areas of climate change research.
Current status
National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture(NICRA) was launched by ICAR on 2nd February 2011.The Scheme has an out lay of Rs 350 Crores for 11th Plan; out of which 200 Crores is allocated for 2010-11 and 150 Crores for 2011-12.Major objectives of this project are to enhance the resilience of Indian Agriculture covering crops, Livestock, Poultry and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies, demonstrate site specific technology packages on farmers fields for adapting to current climatic risks and enhance capacity building and knowledge dissemination process.
Major components of the scheme are strategic research on adaptation and mitigation, technology demonstration and dissemination, capacity building and sponsored competitive research to fill the critical gaps.
Climate Change research in Agriculture sector, objectives of the proposed climate change platform, research priorities in Livestock, fisheries, Poultry, natural resource management, Technology demonstration, dissemination, knowledge management and community mobilization were discussed in detail during the two day meeting. Inputs/proposals from the participants for identifying the themes or 12th Plan period were also finalized.
Prospects for Livestock and Poultry sector
Climate change adaptation studies with regard to Livestock and poultry sectors have immense potential in the study. Compared to crop sector, not much works have been done in this sector. Currently NDRI is one of the strategic institutions doing climate change research in the dairy sector.
Potential areas for Veterinary Universities are
• Technology development
• Technology dissemination
• Capacity building
• Climate change adaptive studies on small ruminants especially in Coastal and hilly areas
• Development of livestock breeds which can tolerate multiple climatic conditions
• Reliable hazard warning system
• Establishing Weather stations
• Environmental chambers
• Village level livestock based climate risk management programme
• Integrated projects
• Market intelligence
• Disease forecasting system
• Knowledge dissemination system for livestock and poultry farmers in the areas of feeding, management, disease control and marketing
Major themes identified for the 12th Plan
Session on Livestock, Fisheries and Poultry was chaired by Dr.C.S. Prasad, Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Science University and co chaired by Dr.Gaya Prasad ADG (AS), ICAR.
Livestock sector
1. Impact assessment of climate change on livestock health, production and adaptation strategies
2. Identification of protein biomarkers responsible for adaptation and heat stress
3. Measurement of Methane level
4. Emergence of new diseases( including zoonotic diseases) and vectors
5. Study on Carbon and water foot prints
6. Soil profiling in terms of availability of micro nutrients
7. Nutritional management in terms of enhancing productivity with concurrent reduction of Methane level
8. Water quality and quantity management
9. Study on multiple adaptive traits including local habitats particularly from climate vulnerable areas
10. Identification of fodder varieties suitable for different climatic stress conditions-Bio prospecting
11. Integrated approach in livestock management particularly under hilly ecosystem
12. Metabolic diseases
13. Development of database on physiological and biochemical parameters
14. Studies on stress related molecular markers
15. Molecular characterization of common breeds of livestock and poultry
16. Modulation of feeding regimen to improve rumen function
17. Rumen biogeography of native breeds
18. Farm waste management system- on farm nutrient management
19. Documentation of Indigenous knowledge practices
20. Strengthening of disease surveillance
21. Capacity building
22. Developing knowledge dissemination system
23. Nutrition and extension strategies
24. Environmental impact on production and reproduction


Poultry sector
1. Nutritional modulations of climate change
2. Performance of birds under different THI and management conditions
3. Poultry waste management
4. Health management
5. Vaccination stress
6. Development of data base
Conclusion
Livestock and Poultry form one of the major areas identified under four modules of NICRA. Augmentation of fodder production during draught/floods, improving productivity, shelter management, vaccination programmes, etc are the major strands coming under this sector.
• Technology dissemination and demonstration play a key role in livestock sector. Strengthening linkage for technology dissemination is the need of the hour. Institutional interventions will help to address some of the major climate change issues. Need based Survey, collection of base line data, identification of climate related vulnerables, selection of specific technology models, documentation of the feedback, Reliable hazard warning system and creating awareness at the village level will help to enhance resilience of livestock production in the vulnerable parts of the state.

Better prospects ahead for climate change research on Livestock and Poultry

Better prospects ahead for climate change research on Livestock and Poultry
Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan
Climate change impacts on Agriculture are being witnessed all over the world, but countries like India are more vulnerable in view of the huge population dependent on agriculture and allied sectors. Coping with climate change is critical for agriculture to sustain 4 percent growth rate. Climate change will reduce productivity by 4.5-9 percent which in turn will reduce 1.5 percent reduction in GDP per year. In order to meet the emerging threats of food security, agriculture productivity must be increased. Moreover Agriculture is one of the eight missions identified by Prime minister’s National action plan for climate change. Indian Council of Agricultural Research identified climate change as one of the 20 high priority platforms for 12th plan. National initiatives are taking place to create a platform for research, knowledge dissemination and knowledge management in the areas of impacts of climate change in Agriculture and allied sectors.
Back ground
National Project on Climate Change was started as an ICAR network project during the 10th plan period(2005), Climarice(Norway), World Bank (2009), NGOs(Oxfam,DA), ICRISAT, IWMI and ACCER are doing pioneering research in the areas of climate change research.
Current status
National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture(NICRA) was launched by ICAR on 2nd February 2011.The Scheme has an out lay of Rs 350 Crores for 11th Plan; out of which 200 Crores is allocated for 2010-11 and 150 Crores for 2011-12.Major objectives of this project are to enhance the resilience of Indian Agriculture covering crops, Livestock, Poultry and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies, demonstrate site specific technology packages on farmers fields for adapting to current climatic risks and enhance capacity building and knowledge dissemination process.
Major components of the scheme are strategic research on adaptation and mitigation, technology demonstration and dissemination, capacity building and sponsored competitive research to fill the critical gaps.
Climate Change research in Agriculture sector, objectives of the proposed climate change platform, research priorities in Livestock, fisheries, Poultry, natural resource management, Technology demonstration, dissemination, knowledge management and community mobilization were discussed in detail during the two day meeting. Inputs/proposals from the participants for identifying the themes or 12th Plan period were also finalized.

Prospects for Livestock and Poultry sector
Climate change adaptation studies with regard to Livestock and poultry sectors have immense potential in the study. Compared to crop sector, not much works have been done in this sector. Currently NDRI is one of the strategic institutions doing climate change research in the dairy sector.
Potential areas are Technology development, Technology dissemination, Capacity building, Climate change adaptive studies on small ruminants especially in Coastal and hilly areas, Development of livestock breeds which can tolerate multiple climatic conditions, Reliable hazard warning system, Establishing Weather stations, Environmental chambers, Village level livestock based climate risk management programme, Integrated projects, Market intelligence, Disease forecasting system and Knowledge dissemination system for livestock and poultry farmers in the areas of feeding, management, disease control and marketing
Major themes identified for the 12th Plan
Livestock sector
Impact assessment of climate change on livestock health, production and adaptation strategies, Identification of protein biomarkers responsible for adaptation and heat stress, Measurement of Methane level, Emergence of new diseases( including zoonotic diseases) and vectors, Study on Carbon and water foot prints, Soil profiling in terms of availability of micro nutrients, Nutritional management in terms of enhancing productivity with concurrent reduction of Methane level, Water quality and quantity management and Study on multiple adaptive traits including local habitats particularly from climate vulnerable areas are some of the major themes coming under Livestock sector.
Moreover Identification of fodder varieties suitable for different climatic stress conditions-Bio prospecting, Integrated approach in livestock management particularly under hilly ecosystem, Metabolic diseases, Development of database on physiological and biochemical parameters, Studies on stress related molecular markers, Molecular characterization of common breeds of livestock and poultry, Modulation of feeding regimen to improve rumen function, Rumen biogeography of native breeds, Farm waste management system- on farm nutrient management, Documentation of Indigenous knowledge practices, Strengthening of disease surveillance, Capacity building, Developing knowledge dissemination system, Nutrition and extension strategies and Environmental impact on production and reproduction require more attention while formulating climate resilient livestock sector.
Poultry sector
Nutritional modulations of climate change, Performance of birds under different THI and management conditions, Poultry waste management, Health management, Vaccination stress and Development of data base are the potential areas of research coming under poultry sector.
Conclusion
Livestock and Poultry form one of the major areas identified under four modules of NICRA. Augmentation of fodder production during draught/floods, improving productivity, shelter management, vaccination programmes, etc are the major strands coming under this sector. Technology dissemination and demonstration play a key role in livestock sector. Strengthening linkage for technology dissemination is the need of the hour. Institutional interventions will help to address some of the major climate change issues. Need based Survey, collection of base line data, identification of climate related vulnerables, selection of specific technology models, documentation of the feedback, Reliable hazard warning system and creating awareness at the village level will help to enhance resilience of livestock production in the vulnerable parts of the country.
Recently a National level stakeholder’s consultation workshop on climate change platform was held at CRIDA, Hyderabad from 19th-20th September 2011 to assess the current status and to formulate the road map for the 12th Plan.

Keralite Professor received highest honour in Australia

Keralite Professor received highest honour in Australia
Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan
Professor Kadambot H.M.Sidhique, a native of Kodungalloor and currently the Chair in Agriculture and Director, UWA Institute of Agriculture and Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia has been honoured as the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in Queen’s birthday honors’ list. The citation recognized his lifetime’s work in advancing agricultural science as an academic and researcher. In 2005 he was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) recognizing his outstanding contribution to Australian and international agriculture, particularly his innovative research and leadership in production agronomy, crop physiology, germplasm development and breeding of grain legumes (pulses) and cereal crops. In 2009 he received a gold medal and citation from the former President on India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, for his international contribution to agricultural science and education. In 2001, Siddique received the prestigious “Urrbrae Memorial Award” for his contribution to Australian agricultural science and the industry.
Professor Siddique has 25 years of experience in agricultural research, teaching and management in both Australia and overseas. As a result of Professor Siddique’s personal research and with others with whom he collaborates, Australia has become one of the major grain legume exporting nations in the world and he is the Winthrop Professor of the University. He has developed an extensive network of scientists within Australia and has also established a diverse range of overseas (China, India, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, East Timor, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Europe, Canada, USA) collaborative research and educational projects and holds a number of national and international committee positions and has published more than 200 scientific papers, review articles and book chapters. As an Alumni of Kerala Agricultural University he was instrumental in establishing Academic of Climate change Education and research at Kerala Agricultural University in association with University of Western Australia.
Recently Professor Sidhique visited Kerala to deliver a talk on Global agricultural Production and impacts on climate change at Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur.He suggested that Agricultural issues of the state need immediate attention by Government in the following thrust areas.
Labour shortage is a serious problem and large scale mechanization is essential. Requirement of machines for garden land agriculture for perennials is increasing- digging, coconut harvesting, basin operations, hill implements etc. Weather advisories and forecasting models needs to expand the weather net work. Productivity of crops are quite low. Larger issues on agro climatic planning for addressing yield gaps of perennials are existing. Exploiting the local potential as well as participatory technology development, management like deep ploughing etc are not practiced. Consultancy/demonstration of agro techniques for productivity increase could be considered.
Water management is an issue in Kerala- water harvesting, rehabilitation of tanks and ponds, water use efficiency, enhancing agronomic aspects, micro irrigation, etc must be popularized in the state. Attention on precision farming for vegetables, banana etc are practiced in isolated areas. This could be expanded to larger areas. Projects to promote Organic farming, Soil fertility, wet land ecosystem, farmer group based technology transfer, value addition, safe use of pesticides, capacity building and strategies to improve the health of major rivers are the need of the hour; Prof.Sidhique added.