6th – 8th November 2024, Bhubaneswar
The 3rd International Conference on ‘Climate-Smart Nutri-Sensitive Integrated Farming System for Gender-Equitable Sustainable Agriculture: Prospects and Challenges (ICNSFS-2024)’ was inaugurated today by Dr R. C. Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Agriculture Education), ICAR, at ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar. He stressed the vital contributions of women farmers in agricultural production and value addition. He also stated that there is a need for gender equity to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Dr Agrawal highlighted that the participation of female students in agricultural education is increasing rapidly. Women farmers are the main conservators of biodiversity; therefore, they should be recognized and rewarded for this, he added.
Dr Agrawal honored successful women farmers for their contributions to agriculture and allied sectors. Students, researchers, and academicians were also recognized for their outstanding contributions to agricultural research and education.
Dr P. K. Roul, Vice-Chancellor, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, highlighted the importance of diverse nutrient-rich food to meet the increasing demand of the burgeoning population and advocated the need for climate-smart agricultural practices to combat the adverse effects of climate change for sustainable agriculture.
Dr Praveen Kumar Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, hoped that this conference would provide a platform to achieve sustainable development goals by addressing the several challenges and institutional bottlenecks.
Dr K.P. Singh, Assistant Director General (Farm Engineering), accentuated the importance of agricultural mechanization for smallholder farmers. He also urged the need for the development of gender-neutral farm machinery.
Dr Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA & Chief Organizing Secretary, emphasized the importance of the conference in achieving sustainable gender-equitable agriculture. She also highlighted the role of ICAR-CIWA in empowering women in the agricultural sector.
Dr Gaya Prasad, Former Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, and Chairperson of the conference, emphasized the challenges of the agri-food system and the role of the women farmers in Indian agriculture. He also emphasized the need to address gender issues in agriculture and allied sectors for adaptation to climate change at regional, national, and global scales.
The conference aimed to foster insights and collaborative strategies to enhance the resilience and gender equity of agricultural systems. With over 300 delegates from India and abroad, it provided a platform for interdisciplinary discussions on critical agricultural issues, including Climate-Smart Agriculture, Integrated Nutrient Management, Gender-Inclusive Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Mechanization, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Artificial Intelligence, and Gender Equity. Specific sub-themes included nutrient-sensitive crop integration, gender-responsive extension services, and AI-driven precision agriculture. The event focused on addressing challenges such as gender disparities, technological advancements, and sustainable practices, contributing to the global trajectory of sustainable agriculture.
(Source: ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar)
Read more: https://www.icar.org.in/3rd-international-conference-climate-smart-nutri-sensitive-integrated-farming-system-gender
