Bhubaneswar, Sep 5: A two-day national conference titled “Crop Intensification Strategies for Climate-Smart and Transparent Water and Nutrient Management” was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Water Management (IIWM), Bhubaneswar.

The event was jointly organised by IIWM under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Odisha chapter of the Indian Water Management Society.

The conference brought together over 200 scientists from across India and abroad to deliberate on eight thematic areas related to sustainable water and nutrient use in agriculture. More than 50 progressive farmers from various states also participated, sharing their field-level experiences and innovations. A special poster exhibition was arranged for young researchers to showcase their work.

Dr. Prashant Kumar Mishra, former Director of the Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun, served as the Chief Guest. He emphasized that crop intensification is vital for enhancing the efficiency of water and nutrient use in the face of climate change.

Dr. Prasannajit Mishra, Director of Extension at UAT, stressed the importance of national-level discussions to address emerging agricultural challenges.

Dr. Hrushikesh Patra, former Dean of the College of Agriculture, UAT, highlighted the need for crop intensification to conserve and utilize natural resources effectively.

The conference commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Arjmadatta Shadanghi, Director of IIWM, who introduced the dignitaries. Dr. Amod Kumar Thakur, Organizing Secretary, outlined the conference agenda.

Experts such as Mr. Prabhakar Adhikari from Pragati Sanstha, Mr. Jacob Neelithanam from CIFS Bilaspur, and Mr. Shabyasachi Das from RRA shared their insights and field experiences, enriching the dialogue with practical perspectives.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Kali Kinkar Bandyopadhyay, Secretary of the Odisha chapter of the Indian Water Management Society.