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| Dr. Bakshi Scientist of SKUAST-J brings laurel to state in Beijing, China | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 8: Dr. Parshant Bakshi represented India in an International Workshop and Regional Expert Consultation on Strengthening Mountain Agriculture Development and Food Security and Nutrition Governance held at Beijing, China from 30th October to 1st November, 2018 organized by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations in Collaboration with University of International Relations (UIR) of China.
On the basis of experience of more than 15 years of teaching, research and extension, he was nominated as an expert from Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi and delivered talk on Mountain Agriculture in India.
The experts from Australia, India, China, Cambodia, United Nation, Nepal, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan participated in this workshop and discussed about status of mountain agriculture in their country. Dr. Parshant briefed that agriculture is the primary sector of the economy in India contributing 45 per cent to the total regional income of the inhabitants. He also stated that 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. 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.
A great genetic variability among plants and domestic animals and the whole spectrum of bio-diversity ranging from alpine pastures to sub-tropical forests to marginal food grain crops to domestic animals is of great potential value for the worldwide farming in future. The multi-component farming system having agriculture, horticulture, forests, livestock, cropland, and human beings as the integral parts of it, represents an overwhelming feature of the solar-powered agriculture. The system also uses natural subsidy in the form of forest biomass and recycled nutrients. The mountain agriculture may thus be referred to as nature subsidized solar-powered agriculture in India.
Dr. Bakshi discussed about the various initiatives being taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is taking lot of initiatives for promotion of North-eastern Himalayan regions and also applauded the Government decision of making Sikkim as the first Organic state of India. He also discussed about the GIAHS in agriculture in India as well as e-marketing that have given new outlook to agriculture. He also stated that Horticulture is coming up as a profitable venture in hilly areas and lot of stress is being given by the central government. He also discussed about the role of women empowerment in mountain agriculture which are an integral part of this system and suggested that government should provide some subsidies to those who are residing in these areas and also women will be given due share in land for which they are taking care in addition to their daily household work as well as looking after their children. He also discussed the model of Self Help Groups (SHGs) by women in villages to which are very successful in different areas of country. In his deliberation, he also shared his idea of one person one plant with all the participants and requested that each country should promote planting of fruit and herbs plants so that the climate amelioration and nutrition facility may increase in their respective countries. Some scientist has well said no human civilization can ever be thought of without plants and trees.
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, handled 10 external funded projects, conferred with various awards and recognition; fellow of Hi-Tech Horticulture Society 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. His web portal www.krishisandesh.com is one of the highly viewed site in agriculture in abroad. |
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