Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 6: Prof. Parshant Bakshi, Head of the Division of Fruit Science and Incharge of the Centre for Organic and Natural Farming at SKUAST-J, delivered an impactful keynote address International Conference held at the Grand Excelsior Hotel, Dubai.
He addressed during a five-day event organized by the Gochar Educational and Welfare Society (GEWSI), India.
The event aimed to address critical topics, including sustainable development, climate-smart agriculture, innovative agronomic and breeding practices, post-harvest management, value addition and nanotechnology in agriculture and allied sciences.
In his address, Prof. Bakshi emphasized the pressing need to adopt climate-smart horticultural practices to ensure the sustainability and productivity of fruit crops amid increasing environmental uncertainties.
He underscored India’s vulnerability to climate change, highlighting that 27 out of 35 States and Union Territories are exposed to climate risks, with Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar being particularly susceptible to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and cyclones.
Prof Bakshi elaborated on how climate change adversely impacts horticultural crops, including reduced flowering, lower yields, and compromised fruit quality due to rising night temperatures and outlined several strategies for building resilience which includes, Adoption of adaptive practices such as water-efficient irrigation, organic amendments, and innovative planting systems, Implementation of organic farming, high-density planting, varietal improvement, smart irrigation and crop diversification to mitigate risks, Empowering farmers and stakeholders through participatory approaches to adopt sustainable practices Climate-Smart Horticulture Systems.
He stressed that achieving climate resilience in horticulture demands collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers, extension services and farmers. Such efforts will ensure the long-term viability of crop production systems, secure food security, and improve rural livelihoods amidst the challenges posed by climate change.
The conference brought together 102 experts, including scientists, researchers, students and entrepreneurs, from countries such as India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and the UAE.
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