Land degradation and climate change pose threat to cultivation in drylands: Minister
JODHPUR: The 13th International Conference on Development of Drylands (ICDD) began on Monday. The conference with the theme of ‘Converting Dryland Areas from Grey into Green’ is being jointly organised by International Dryland Development Commission (ICDD) and Arid Zone Research Association of India (AZRAI).
Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the conference, minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare Gajendera Singh Shekhawat highlighted the problems faced by dryland areas as well as their strengths. He pointed out that drylands are very fragile ecosystem and emphasised that land degradation and climate change are becoming two major issues that may pose serious threat to sustainable agricultural production in drylands.
The agro-climatic conditions in arid regions are challenging due to scanty rainfall with highly erratic distribution, low fertility and poor holding capacity of native soils, and other reasons.
Existing levels of land degradation and increasing biotic pressure on limited natural resources pose major challenge to farming and livelihood security. scientists attending the event said.
He said, “Drylands cover about half of the cultivated area in the world and support about half the livestock and over twothird human population.” He also highlighted that these areas are ri ch i n s ol ar and wind energy, are hot spots of unique biodiversity, and have conserved and protected rich cultural heritage of the world. Shekhawat said, “The world’s dryland regions are going to play a very important role in future food and nutrition security of billions of people.”
OP Yadav, Director Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur and Chair- man of AZRAI, said that about 450 scientists and stakeholders, from five continents and over 40 countries, involved in development of drylands, are participating in the conference.
Yadav also underlined the changes made in the past few decades due to technologies in the arid zone of Rajasthan.
He said cost-benefit analyses of technologies like sand-dune stabilization, shelter belt plantation, wind erosion control, watershed management, water harvesting etc. has indicated that the technologies are cost-effective, though some of the technologies have long gestation period.
Four directors general of International (CGIAR) Institutes and two former director generals of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, RS Paroda and Panjab Singh were the guest of honour at the programme.