SGRR University Hosts Deliberations on Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Amid Climate Change

Agriculture is not merely a means of food production; it is the backbone of the country’s food security, rural economy and livelihood of millions of people. Horticulture plays a vital role in improving nutrition, farmers’ income and agricultural diversification, while forestry is crucial for environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and maintaining ecological balance. With the growing impact of climate change, integrating these three sectors with technology, research and innovation has become an important need of the hour. In this direction, the School of Agricultural Sciences (ICAR-accredited) of Shri Guru Ram Rai University (SGRRU), Dehradun, organised the 15th International Conference on Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry.

The two-day conference was held on the theme “Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry: Innovation for Climate-Resilient Cropping Systems.” Organised in hybrid mode, the conference brought together scientists, agricultural experts, academicians and researchers from India and abroad to deliberate on strategies for making agriculture and allied sectors more sustainable, productive and resilient in the face of climate change.

During the inaugural session, Dr. G. S. Sachdeva, Deputy Director, Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Uttarakhand, and Dr. Amrik Singh, Sugarcane Commissioner, Government of Punjab, participated as chief guests. Dr. Manish Bhandari, Head, Genetics and Tree Improvement Division, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun; Dr. Sanjay Kumar Rathi, Professor of Agronomy, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar; and Dr. Anupam Bar, Genetics and Plant Breeding, ICAR-IISWC, Dehradun, were present as distinguished guests.

The conference was attended by Dr. D. P. S. Barwal, Founder and CEO, Just Agriculture Education Group; Dr. Sushila Hooda, President, Indian Society of Agriculture, Horticulture and Rural Development; and Dr. Hitendra Kumar, Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences, SGRRU, along with heads of various departments and faculty members.

More than 200 scientists, faculty members and researchers from India and abroad participated in the conference through the hybrid mode. Experts discussed in detail the challenges emerging in agriculture, horticulture and forestry due to climate change, the impact of changing weather patterns on crop production, sustainable agricultural practices, advanced technologies and the potential of climate-resilient cropping systems.

Special emphasis was laid on promoting agricultural technologies and cropping systems that can deliver better production with fewer resources while maintaining ecological balance under changing climatic conditions. The participants highlighted that promoting research and innovation in agriculture, horticulture and forestry can contribute significantly towards enhancing farmers’ incomes, strengthening food and nutritional security, and conserving natural resources.