NAU to study pollution impact on agriculture

The Economic times , Thursday, May 14, 2009
Correspondent : PTI

NAVSARI (Guj): The Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) has undertaken a research project to study the impact of pollution on farming and agriculture in the industrial belt stretching from Bharuch to Vapi in South Gujarat.

The five-year research project will also suggest change in crop patterns and alternative crop varieties that the farmers could opt for at the end of the study.

Bharuch to Vapi in South Gujarat falls in the most industrialized area of the state which is referred as Golden industrial corridor.

Various issues that will be covered under the project would include amount of chemicals in water, air and land, effect of greenhouse gases and ozone depletion.

"There has been large-scale affect on the agriculture in the South Gujarat region due to the industrial pollution and climate change," project incharge professor P K Shrivastava said.

"We have begun work on the research project and are analysing the data for past 10 years for how the pollution levels have affected the crops. We are also studying the present status environment and climate change," he said.

Shrivastava said that the primary focus will be on paddy, sugarcane, mango and banana which are cultivated in large number in the South Gujarat region.

"In the first stage we will be analysing the data that we have and talking to the farmers in district of Bharuch, Surat, Valsad, Navasari, Narmada and Tapi," he said.

"We will also be assessing the variety of crops which are less affected by the presence of more carobon-dioxide in the atmosphere," Shrivastava added.

Professor Shrivastava said that during the course of study they will also study the irrigation pattern used by the farmers.

"For example where the water pollution levels are higher the traditional watering pattern will allow more pollutants to seep into the land and the crop. If the micro irrigation system is used there will be less pollution," he said.

The research project which will be conducted in phases has been allotted a budget of Rs four crore for five years by the state agriculture department, out of which for Rs 40 lakh fund for the first phase has already been released.

Shrivastava said that project will have 4-5 key members who will overlook the various aspect of the research.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of NAU S C Pathak said that once the conclusions are drawn after survey and study of various factors, it will be shared with the farmers in the region so that they can make suitable change in their crop pattern or opt for better variety of seeds which are more pollution resistant.

 
SOURCE : Thursday, May 14, 2009
 


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