‘Urgent action needed to combat climate change’

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 27 (EMN): Additional Director of Horticulture Qhutovi Wotsa on Thursday said that the debate on climate change around the world is no longer political rhetoric but ‘a reality’ that needs serious and urgent response from all concerned.

He was addressing a state-level training programme on micro-irrigation organised by North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM), Ministry of Jal Shakti, government of India in collaboration with the department of Horticulture, government of Nagaland at the conference hall of Horticulture Directorate in Kohima.

Wotsa informed that the erstwhile National Water Mission has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) by the government of India during 2016-2017. Subsequently, it was implemented in the state during 2017-2018, he added.

Wotsa also highlighted the funding pattern to officers and farmers attending the programme. He stated that PMKSY was formulated with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation and improving water-use efficiency.

Further, he encouraged the participants to equip themselves with knowledge on the issue of water management.

Dr. UM Hazarika, associate professor (WRE), NERIWALM and KVK, in his introductory note, stressed on the need for ‘intervention of Information Technology for smooth transaction and efficiency’ while lamenting the depletion of water resources and the increase in requirement of water around the world.

He stated that the requirement/demand of water increases with the improvement of standard of living.

According to him, for ‘better water efficiency’, the conventional system should be done away with.

Other resource persons were Arunjyoti Sonowal, junior scientist at the College of Agriculture, Assam Agriculture University and Toushif Ali, young professional (Technical) at NERIWALM.