New agricultural techniques will have to be adopted in order to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, said the Uttarakhand Governor Krishan Kant Paul. He was speaking at the conclusion of a summit on climate resilient mountain agriculture organised by the watershed management department at Forest Research Institute (FRI).
The Governor said that scientific information related to agriculture will have to be provided to farmers. Those responsible must ensure that agriculture-related information from agriculture universities, institutions and seminars reaches the farmers.
He said that the concept of integrated farming will have to be adopted in order to double the income of farmers in mountainous regions. Along with farming, they should also accord importance to animal husbandry, pisciculture, bee-keeping, mushrooming, horticulture and related activities.
Paul said that the effects of global warming and climate change can be seen across the world.
Rainwater harvesting must be adopted in the mountains and seeds that are drought resistant must be made available to farmers. Soil testing must also be encouraged.He said that organic farming needs to be encouraged and farmers must be informed of its value in the market.
Agriculture Minister Subodh Uniyal said that the government was going to develop one village in each block as an ideal integrated village under the Ekikrit Adarsh Krishi Gaon Yojana. In each of these ideal villages, Rs one crore will be spent on infrastructure and a revolving fund of Rs 15 lakh will be created.The government has got Rs 1500 crore for organic farming and five lakh farmers will be brought under organic farming, he said.
World Bank representative Ranjan Samantaray, principal secretary Manisha Panwar, FRI director Savita, agricultural experts, scientists and farmers were also present on the occasion.