Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Climate change is a major challenge for the agriculture and the entire ecosystem, emphasizing on the importance of stepping up efforts to combat it as he launched 35 crop types that are climate resilient and rich in nutrition content.
Modi also inaugurated the newly constructed campus of the National Institute of Biotic Stress Tolerance in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, at a virtual ceremony.
Before addressing a gathering, he delivered the "Green Campus Award" to agricultural institutions and talked with farmers who use innovative ways.
"Not only agriculture, but climate change is a major challenge to the entire ecosystem. New pests, new illnesses, and epidemics are on the way as a result of climate change. As a consequence, there is a significant risk to human health, as well as livestock and crops” Modi added.
Climate change has an influence on fish productivity as well as animal health and output. As a result, farmers and fishermen must face the losses, he said. "Continuous intensive study on these topics is required. When science, government, and society collaborate, the results are better "he said.
Modi spoke with farmers from several states, including two women farmers, Zaitan Begum from Jammu & Kashmir's Ganderabal region and Darshana Pedenkar from Goa's Bardez.
He also spoke to Suresh Rana of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand and Thoiba Singh of Thouba in Manipur.
These farmers discussed how they benefited from government schemes such as PM-KISAN. They also discussed how they used innovative farming and processing techniques in various terrains around Uttarakhand.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Pountry Parshottam Rupala, Ministers of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary and Shobha Karandlaje, and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh were also in present at the event.
