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| SKUAST-J Scientist to represent India as expert in Beijing | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 25: Dr. Parshant Bakshi, son of soil and presently working as an Associate Professor in the Division of Fruit Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies of Jammu was nominated as an expert from Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi for attending the International Workshop and Regional Expert Consultation on Strengthening Mountain Agriculture Development and Food Security and Nutrition Governance to be held at Beijing, China from 30th October to 1st November, 2018 to be organized by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations in Collaboration with University of International Relations (UIR) of China.
The objectives of this consultation are to identify key challenges and constraints and opportunities that agriculture and food systems face in mountainous areas, facilitate knowledge sharing and good practices on agriculture development and identify possible entry points and policy recommendations towards sustainable mountain agriculture development. Dr. Bakshi is having an experience of more than 15 years of teaching, research and extension and will represent India in this three days conference and also have to deliver a talk on Country study on Mountain Agriculture in India.
Himalayan mountain range is the lifeline of our country which is vastly distributed extending upto 2500 km in length and 250-400 km in width. Himalayan landmass of 6,50,000 sq. km is spread over India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. About 85 per cent of Himalayan landmass occurs in India occupying 16.4 % of country's area and support 65 million people. The Himalayan region is inhabitant of 34 million people, a large percentage is of the hill farming communities. They sustain largely on subsistence farming which they practice on marginal rainfed and some irrigated farmlands occupying 15.8 per cent of the total area of the Himalayas, i.e., 53.8 million hectares.
The rest of the Himalayan landscape includes rangelands, pastures, wastelands, the so called bush land-grazing areas and the forests; all these account for nearly 69 per cent of the Himalayan area. About 15 per cent of the area is permanently covered with snow and provides a perennial flow of water, 1,200 cu. Km annually, to the vast Indo-Gangetic plains. Agriculture is the primary sector of the economy contributing 45 per cent to the total regional income of the inhabitants. However, more than 90 % of the farmers in the hill and mountain areas are marginal or small land holding families, cultivating less than one hectare of land each.
Thus, mountain agriculture plays a significant role in Indian economy that has to be deliberated in detail by Dr. Bakshi in his presentation. Dr. Parshant Bakshi also visited Volcani Centre Israel under MASHAV fellowship and has brilliant academic record as he guided 07 students as Advisor and 30 students as Co-Advisor; published more than 100 research and review papers in national and international journal and involved himself in social activities by way of encouraging people to plant fruit plants on their birthday or some special day under Save Horticulture mission and planted more than 9000 fruit plants in last two years. |
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