Hyd to host intl conference on climate change tomorrow

A two-day international conference on climate change, water agriculture and food security will be held at ICRISAT Hyderabad tomorrow.
The objective is to better understand and synthesise the biophysical, technological, institutional, social, economic and political drivers for future agricultural development and food security.
The conference has been planned across 15 themes and 70 papers.
Dr. Udaya Sekhar Nagothu, professor and director, International Department, Norwegian Institute of Bio-economy Research, said the seminar will not only focus on climate change and future impacts on food security but participants will also present their experiences.
Dr. K. Yella Reddy, Director, Agriculture and Research, Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute (WALAMTARI) here, said a five-year project "Clima Adapt" has been under implementation since last four years in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, with an aim to adopt technologies for water agricultural and farmers.

The project is a multidisciplinary one and scientists from various institutes like WALAMATARI, M.S. Swaminthan Research Foundation, International Water Management Institute, Norwegian Institute for Bio Economy Research among others will participate in the conference.

Central Water Commission chairman G.S. Jha will be among the dignitaries who will attend the conference.
"There are technologies where less water is being used to grow paddy and sugar cane. Presently, water is not being used efficiently. How to utilise water efficiently with help of latest innovations will be discussed," Reddy said.
He said WALAMTARI has developed smart technologies for water management in crops under "Clima Adapt" project which has been funded by the Norwegian Government.

"These Smart technologies include sensors which are low cost and can tell the farmers about the levels of water in their fields while sitting at their homes. With this technology, the farmers will get an SMS on their mobiles when water level goes down in the fields," he said, adding that these sensors also monitor water resources, distribution and utilisation.
All these technologies will be showcased at an exhibition which will be part of the conference.