Varanasi: An international workshop- Prioritizing Agronomy in Changing Environment (PAiCE)- discussing the potential adaptation options to address the adverse impacts of climate change on major cereal crops (rice, wheat, and maize) with the help of an interactive tool, was hosted by the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre, Varanasi on Sunday. The workshop was jointly organized by the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), a regional program of Excellence in Agronomy (EiA), Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA), Hyderabad. Experts from prominent agencies advocated the role of agronomy in the development of regional strategies for climate change adaptation. CRIDA director VK Singh, CIMMYT CSISA lead Peter Craufurd, ICAR-CRIDA principal scientist BMK Raju, ICAR-RCER director Anup Das, ICRISAT Global Director ML Jat, IARI Agronomy division head SS Rathore, ISARC director Sudhanshu Singh were a part of the workshop EiA regional lead and IRRI principal scientist (Weed Science and Systems Agronomy), Virender Kumar said, As part of its mandate, EiA intends to undertake stakeholder consultations/workshops to understand the priority areas of interventions to address production constraints and emerging challenges confronting smallholder farmers within Bihar and the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain region. PAiCE (Prioritizing Agronomy in Changing Environments) is an interactive tool developed to aid in the prioritization process of climatic hazards and the identification of adaptation options. It has a total of four modules, out of which two modules deal with the system characterization of key crops based on their area and economic value of production and the identification and prioritization of major climatic challenges and hazards for each crop and season, said ISARC director, Sudhanshu Singh Todays workshop would lead to a discussion on multidimensional adaptation strategies based on the impact, cost and value of potential adaptation options to harness maximum benefits for specific regions and crops, said Singh.We also published the following articles recentlyNeed for sustainable food production in wake of climate change, says governorGovernor P S Sreedharan Pillai emphasized sustaining food production in the wake of climate change at the symposium on Climate-Smart Agronomy organized by ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI), Goa. Coastal agriculture faces threats from sea level rise, floods, cyclones, tsunami, and natural disasters, requiring research strategies for sustainable livelihoods. Dr Himanshu Pathak, director general of ICAR, Delhi, highlighted the role of agronomy in fortifying agriculture with science and technology-driven innovations, and ICARs commitment to self-reliance in food and livelihood security.Peru glaciers decimated by climate change: ReportPeru has lost 56% of its tropical glaciers due to climate change. The National Institute of Research of Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems reports that 2,084 glaciers are now covering 1,050 square kilometers in Peru. The melting glaciers have led to the creation of new mountain lagoons, which pose a risk of overflowing and flooding. The report also highlights the formation of 164 lagoons in the last four years, bringing the total to 8,466. The retreat of these glaciers is impacting the natural mountain ecosystem, and efforts to reduce pollution and protect green areas are needed to mitigate further loss.Fund to compensate developing nations for climate change is unfinished business at Cop28Developing nations are seeking justice through the creation of a loss and damage fund at the Cop28 talks. The United Nations estimates that up to $387 billion annually is needed for developing countries to adapt to climate-driven changes. However, there are doubts about whether the fund will raise enough money, as the Green Climate Fund has fallen short of its goal. The draft agreement calls for the World Bank to temporarily host the fund, but developing countries wanted a new and independent entity. Wealthy nations want the fund to focus on the most vulnerable countries.

Stay updated with all the Varanasi Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.