2nd Annual Workshop of NICRA

JNKVV, Jabalpur were also present. Nearly 15 publications including books, brochures & CDs were released during the inaugural session. The chairman of best performing VCRMCs were felicitated by Hon'ble DG (see Box). Concurrent technical sessions followed the inaugural session over the next two days in which PIs of NICRA project made detailed presentations on various theme areas viz., natural resource management, crop improvement, technology demonstration, horticulture, livestock, fisheries and socio economic impacts. A special session was held to draw up the XII Plan priorities in which the following areas were identified for focus under strategic research.

• Multiple abiotic stress tolerance in crops and horticultural crops
• Insect, pest surveillance and pollinators
• Carbon sequestration
• Water and energy management for adaptation and mitigation
• Heat stress management in livestock and spawning in fisheries
• Adaptation financing and mainstreaming climate resilient development

Besides, some of the region specific issues such as impact of seasonal rainfall variability on groundwater dynamics in Punjab and Haryana; coping with recurring intense floods on Sali rice in Assam; impact of drought on rainfed rice in Chhattisgarh; drought triggered water shortage for sugarcane in Maharashtra; heavy short term damage transplanted paddy due to cyclonic rains in coastal Andhra Pradesh; chilling constraints for temperate horticulture in J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and water deficit at farm/sub basin levels in Tamilnadu during drought years were also flagged.

Under the technology demonstration component, it was proposed to build on the experience gained so far with special emphasis on convergence at village/block level for horizontal spread of the successful experiences. A climate knowledge management web portal was also proposed for documentation and dissemination processes.