The first State-level steering committee meeting for Climate Change Knowledge Network in Indian Agriculture (CCKN-IA) project was held here on Tuesday.
Agriculture Secretary Rajesh Verma presided over the meeting. The CCKN-IA is a bilateral cooperation project funded by the German International Cooperation (GIZ) through the Union Ministry of Agriculture and the State Agriculture Department is the nodal agency for implementation of this project.
Senior officials from various line departments, OUAT, agricultural research institutes, agriculture knowledge information providers and NGOs participated in the meeting.
Addressing the participants, Verma said climate change and weather variability in particular has been a reality now. The ongoing incessant rains lashing the whole State due to low pressure and depressions formed over the Bay of Bengal systems is a glaring example of weather aberration the society has to face.
Agriculture and Food Production Director RS Gopalan stressed the need for documenting local practices and preserve varieties of seeds that have better potential to perform under climatic stresses.
GIZ Technical Advisor Florian Moder and Programme Manager Rajeev Sharma presented the project overview, background and technical framework of the knowledge management network.
Technical expert of the CCKN-IA Anup Kumar Das presented the key achievements of the project. Director of IMD centre, Bhubaneswar SC Sahu stressed on the need for utilising the short range and medium range weather forecast and early warning services for better preparedness and resilience at all levels.
SN Pasupalak of the OUAT highlighted about the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa under which agro-met advisories for farmers are being disseminated by the farmers.
Nodal Officer of the CCKN-IA Anupam Bose had delivered the welcome address and assistant director of IMAGE Er Asutohs Behera gave vote of thanks.