logo
Experts urge collaboration for climate resilient agriculture in India

Experts urge collaboration for climate resilient agriculture in India

Time of India6 days ago
Nagpur: Experts called for higher collaboration between govt institutions, the private sector, and farmers to deal with climate changes.
The policy silos need to be dismantled to ensure a climate-resilient agriculture ecosystem for the country, they said while speaking at a seminar regional policy dialogue on climate and agriculture — organised by a voluntary organisation, Sustainability Matters.
These participants included farm activists, scientists, and even farmers. The former Director of the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), CD Mayee, said climate change is a reality that needs to be responded to. He called for technology adaptation on a large scale.
CICR's current Director, WN Wahmare, said Vidarbha is already experiencing a shift in rainfall patterns. Over 1,000 mm of precipitation has been recorded in areas where the average is 700 to 800 mm.
The former vice-chancellor of the Panjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Sharad Nimbalkar, said soil health should be central to any strategy on dealing with climate change. "We are losing organic content at an alarming rate, and it is directly impacting the yields," he said.
"Universities and research institutions must lead in developing watershed-based models to generate soil sustainability."
The district superitendent (agriculture) Ravindra Manohare said Maharasthra's project on climate resilient agriculture (POCRA) project covers of 7,000 villages and is supported by a world bank fund of Rs6,000 crore. The seminar was part of the national series said a press note.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Doctor's Day 2025
,
messages
and quotes!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

SHOCKING! Scientists discovered microplastics in human reproductive fluids
SHOCKING! Scientists discovered microplastics in human reproductive fluids

Time of India

time5 days ago

  • Time of India

SHOCKING! Scientists discovered microplastics in human reproductive fluids

Scientists have discovered microplastics in human reproductive fluids, raising concerns about potential risks to fertility and reproductive health. The study, presented at the ESHRE meeting, found microplastics in follicular fluid from women and seminal fluid from men. Researchers identified various common microplastic polymers, including PTFE, PS, and PET, prompting further investigation into the impact on reproductive health. Microplastics are everywhere - in the air you breathe, the water you drink, food you eat. It has even entered the living tissue. Scientists have discovered microplastics in human reproductive fluids. During the research presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the scientists revealed the presence of microplastics in human reproductive fluids. The recent discovery has raised concerns about its potential risks to fertility and reproductive health. What are microplastics Microplastics are plastic particles that are less than 5 millimeters (mm) in size. For better visualization, human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide. There are also microplastics, which are even smaller, invisible to the naked eye, and measuring smaller than one-thousandth of a millimeter. They are known as nanoplastics. These microplastics are formed from the chemical breakdown, aka decomposition, of larger plastic waste, including food packaging (like single-use water bottles), synthetic fabrics, and personal care products. Microplastics in human reproductive fluids To see if microplastics have invaded living tissue, the researchers analyzed follicular fluid from 29 women and seminal fluid from 22 men, both of which play critical roles in natural conception and assisted reproduction. What they found was shocking. These reproductive fluids contained a variety of commonly used microplastic polymers, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyurethane (PU). The scientists found the presence of microplastics in 69% of the follicular fluid samples, they analyzed. PTFE was the most common polymer, found in 31% of the samples. This was followed by PP (28%), PET (17%), PA (14%), polyethylene (PE) (10%), PU (10%), and PS (7%), in descending order of prevalence. They found microplastics in 55% of the seminal fluids collected from men. PTFE was the most prevalent polymer, identified in 41% of the samples. Other polymers detected included PS (14%), PET (9%), PA (5%), and PU (5%), though in lower concentrations. What are experts saying 'Previous studies had already shown that microplastics can be found in various human organs. As a result, we weren´t entirely surprised to find microplastics in fluids of the human reproductive system, but we were struck by how common they were – found in 69% of the women and 55% of the men we studied,' lead researcher Dr. Emilio Gomez-Sanchez said in a statement. Microplastics pose a threat to environmental and public health. Though the researchers have found the presence of microplastics in human reproductive fluids, they are yet to understand how it may affect fertility, and its possible implications for human reproductive health. 'What we know from animal studies is that in the tissues where microplastics accumulate, they can induce inflammation, free radical formation, DNA damage, cellular senescence, and endocrine disruptions. It's possible they could impair egg or sperm quality in humans, but we don't yet have enough evidence to confirm that,' Dr. Gomez-Sanchez added. They are planning to expand the research to include a larger cohort and collect detailed lifestyle and environmental exposure data. Further study would explore the potential relationship between the presence of microplastics and oocyte and sperm quality. Should you be concerned Dr. Gomez-Sanchez said that fertility is influenced by many factors, such as age, health, and genetics. He said that the recent findings should not cause alarm among those trying to conceive. 'There's no need for alarm at this point. Microplastics are just one of many elements that may play a role in fertility. However, it is sensible to consider ways of reducing our exposure to them. Simple steps, such as using glass containers to store and heat food, or limiting the amount of water we consume from plastic bottles, can help minimise our intake,' he said. The Plastics Problem: Nano & Microplastics and Their Dangerous Impact on Heart Health 'Environmental factors influencing reproduction are certainly a reality, although not easy to measure objectively. The authors of this study found microplastics in over two-thirds of follicular fluids and more than 50% of semen fluids from the studied patients. Although the significance of these findings is not yet clear, they should be considered an additional argument in favour of avoiding the generalised use of plastics in our daily lives,' Professor Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, Immediate Past Chair of ESHRE, added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!

IIT-Indore launches School of Innovation offering BDes programme
IIT-Indore launches School of Innovation offering BDes programme

Time of India

time5 days ago

  • Time of India

IIT-Indore launches School of Innovation offering BDes programme

Indore: The Indian Institute of Technology, Indore (IIT-I), has launched the 'School of Innovation' offering a four-year full-time Bachelor of Design (BDes) programme, commencing in July for the new academic session. The programme encompasses foundational and advanced courses in design, innovation, and system engineering, focusing on value creation, while delivering comprehensive solutions to pressing social challenges in priority sectors. "The School of Innovation represents IIT Indore's strong commitment to shaping the future of design-led education and research in India. We believe that innovation emerges at the intersection of disciplines, and this school will provide a unique environment where creativity meets technology and human-centred design. Through this initiative, we aim to nurture responsible designers and innovators who will tackle the most urgent societal problems of our time," said IIT-I director Suhas Joshi. "We are excited to welcome the first batch of students and look forward to their contributions in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative future for India and the world," Joshi said. The initiative has been taken under the National Initiative for Design Innovation (NIDI) scheme, introduced by the ministry of education to foster innovation, design, and creative problem-solving. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025년 가장 여유 넘치는 농장 게임. 설치 없음 Taonga: 아일랜드 팜 플레이하기 Undo Admission will be through the national-level Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED), conducted annually by IIT Bombay, open to students from science, commerce, arts, and humanities backgrounds. Professor Avinash Sonawane, head of the School of Innovation at IIT-I said, "The idea is to focus on different sectors and benefit them by innovations and designing. Modern tools and technologies will be used and taught to students to address social problems in priority sectors." Students will undertake foundation courses in their first year, followed by specialisation options from the second year onwards in urban systems innovation, educational technologies, healthcare systems, or sustainable energy systems. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!

Experts urge collaboration for climate resilient agriculture in India
Experts urge collaboration for climate resilient agriculture in India

Time of India

time6 days ago

  • Time of India

Experts urge collaboration for climate resilient agriculture in India

Nagpur: Experts called for higher collaboration between govt institutions, the private sector, and farmers to deal with climate changes. The policy silos need to be dismantled to ensure a climate-resilient agriculture ecosystem for the country, they said while speaking at a seminar regional policy dialogue on climate and agriculture — organised by a voluntary organisation, Sustainability Matters. These participants included farm activists, scientists, and even farmers. The former Director of the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), CD Mayee, said climate change is a reality that needs to be responded to. He called for technology adaptation on a large scale. CICR's current Director, WN Wahmare, said Vidarbha is already experiencing a shift in rainfall patterns. Over 1,000 mm of precipitation has been recorded in areas where the average is 700 to 800 mm. The former vice-chancellor of the Panjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, Sharad Nimbalkar, said soil health should be central to any strategy on dealing with climate change. "We are losing organic content at an alarming rate, and it is directly impacting the yields," he said. "Universities and research institutions must lead in developing watershed-based models to generate soil sustainability." The district superitendent (agriculture) Ravindra Manohare said Maharasthra's project on climate resilient agriculture (POCRA) project covers of 7,000 villages and is supported by a world bank fund of Rs6,000 crore. The seminar was part of the national series said a press note. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store