He was delivering the Dr. N. Mahalingam Endowment Lecture at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University here on Saturday. Carbon emission and use of fossil fuel would have to come down to contain global warming. Further, associated with this challenge was the impact of green house gas emissions of the past.

Impact

With this, India was likely to see more extreme impact on climate and the assumed normal weather might not be normal.

For those in the agricultural sector, this would mean the need for more varieties and options and storage would become more important.

Apart from this, Mr. Sen said, scientists should focus on the immediate problem of poverty.

There were a large number of farmers who were illiterate. It was essential to improve the income of the poor.

Research

In order to meet these challenges, “we need time-bound research that will also focus on specific objectives.” Technology should be quicker and effective and should reach the common man.

“A strategic vision is needed,” he said.

Resources should be used efficiently and the systems should be in place. “We also need a detailed mapping of the resources, technology and ways to cope with waste,” he said.

The emphasis was on field level planning to have effective implementation.