In his keynote address, Ashok Dalwai, additional secretary, department of agriculture, cooperation and farmers' welfare, asserted that climate is subjected to constant changes on an astronomical time scale, alternating between cold and warm conditions. "Beginning with the Industrial Revolution around 1850, the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, triggered change in the climate systems. The pace of change has been accelerating over the past few decades in particular. The use of fossil fuels combined with deforestation, has enhanced the earth's natural greenhouse effect," he said.

Dalwai said that the thickening of blanket of greenhouse gases caused rapid increase in the earth's average surface temperature. "Today it has risen to over 15.5 degree Celsius with most of the increase coming about since 1980. It is projected that it will further increase by 2-3 degree Celsius before the end of this century," he said.

Rajendra Singh, Stockholm Water Prize winner, there is need for a comprehensive plan to mitigate climate change.

David Bergvinson, director general, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, stressed on the need for developing technology to preserve water resources. "The number of borewells has tripled in the past 10 years in the world. Such trend is a threat to water resources, which should be utilized with caution," he said.

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for doubling farmers' income by 2022, he suggested that the role of water be prioritized to achieve success.