ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Udhagamandalam is organizing Department of Science and Technology (DST) sponsored National level online training program on “Soil & Water Conservation Technologies for Climate Smart Agriculture in the Context of Extreme Weather Events” during 22nd February to 5th March.2021 at ICAR-IISWC, Research Centre, Udhagamandalam. The training program was virtually inaugurated on 22nd Feb., 2021. The training program designed for Group A gazetted officers from Central and State government involved in natural resource management, officers/professors holding scientific and teaching posts in central and state agricultural universities to acquaint the participants about the latest tools, techniques and models for effective integrated management of watersheds for overall improvement in Rural Livelihood Security. 52 participants from 12 states across the Nation participated in the programme.

Dr. P.Raja, Principal Scientist and Course Director welcomed the gathering and briefed about the training programme. Dr. K.Kannan, Principal Scientist and Head of the Centre in his address emphasized importance of cover crops for better soil management. Dr. R.S. Yadav, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun in his presidential address emphasized the need for framing a policy for judicious fertilizer usage in climate resilient agriculture. Dr. V.Geethalakshmi, Director, Directorate of Crop Management, TNAU, Coimbatore in her guest of honor speech emphasized the need for region specific climate models for climate prediction and Modeling. Also, she stressed the need for understanding and ameliorating the global warming through climate smart agricultural practices to minimize climate related disasters.

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad in his chief guest address highlighted the importance of soil health and quality, water resources conservation and management, evidence based decision making based on local, region, national and global level interventions through timely policies for climate smart agriculture. He also emphasized the need for reducing greenhouse gas emission from soils by the way of judicious application of fertilizers like urea. He also emphasized the need for creating awareness among school students about the ill effects of global warming and educating them in environmental and biodiversity friendly activities. Soft copy of the training manual was also released as a part of this online training programme which was dedicated to late V. Selvi, former scientist (SWCE) of the Ooty centre.

Scientists and technicians of the centre, Head of offices and other dignitaries across the nation were present. Dr. H.C. Hombe Gowda, Senior Scientist, Course Co-Director proposed Vote of Thanks.