At the National Conference on 'Crop Diversification and Climate Change' hosted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, in collaboration with Rural Voice and the NGO VillageNama, experts highlighted the urgent need for crop diversification as a vital step toward sustainable agriculture, capable of addressing environmental challenges and ensuring economic stability for farmers. The event drew a large gathering of farmers, policymakers, government officials, scientists, and experts.

Farmers from across Punjab converged at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to attend the one-day national conference. Special Chief Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister V.K. Singh was the chief guest on the occasion, while Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, presided over the event.

Voicing concern over climate change leading to severe health and agrarian crises, V.K. Singh called for moving away from the traditional wheat–paddy cropping pattern. He pointed out the decline in the area under Kharif maize and the increase under water-gulping spring maize, putting immense pressure on groundwater and the water-guzzling paddy. Singh also emphasized the need to strengthen Punjab’s cooperative structure and advocated for a dedicated agency to promote crop diversification. He added that overcoming challenges related to market access, water management, and farmer awareness will require coordinated efforts from the government, research institutions, and the farming community.

PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal highlighted the visible risks of climate change, including more frequent extreme weather events, such as record heat in May and June this year. Terming climate change as a global phenomenon, Dr Gosal mentioned that the adverse effects of the same have been evident on crop health and yield in recent years. “The role of crop diversification is to enhance resilience in the agricultural sector by reducing dependency on a single crop. Hence it is important to seek alternatives to the wheat–paddy crop cycle,” he said. Dr Gosal further informed that PAU had released more than 950 varieties of improved seeds, recommending alternatives to paddy and wheat. Dr Gosal advocated the use of mulch in the fields to enrich the soil with biomass nutrients, the use of short-duration rice varieties PR 126 and Basmati, adopt PAU recommendations for biopesticides, plant protection technologies, diversification to crops like cotton, maize, berseem and vegetables. He also mentioned the vast potential of value-addition and marketing, especially in frozen chickpeas.

Sharing his experience, Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman of Bharat Krishak Samaj, called for policies that genuinely address the challenges faced by farmers, emphasizing the importance of good governance and transparency. He also underscored the importance of quality education in agricultural sciences, videographing meetings of the gram sabhas and mandatory e-documentation.

Dr Rashmi Sinha, Co-Founder of VillageNama, in her welcome address, called for unity in the face of the climate crisis and finding solutions to the challenges. She sensitised the audience to ensure a sustainable planet for the younger generation. Shared alarming statistics from the UNICEF, she said that climate change had induced floods six times over and droughts seven times over in recent years.

Harvir Singh, Editor-in-Chief of Rural Voice, emphasized the importance of the conference in uniting stakeholders to address pressing challenges like climate change. Singh stated that the conference aims to foster dialogue among all stakeholders, which is essential for building consensus on possible solutions and policy reforms. He further highlighted that the mission of Rural Voice and Rural World is to empower farmers in the policymaking process by equipping them with accurate, valuable information.

The conference featured three technical sessions. The first, "Need for Crop Diversification," explored the economic and ecological factors of diversifying crops. The second, "Strengthening Rural Economy through Alternative Crops," discussed emerging sectors like floriculture and the potential of digital platforms in rural markets. The final session focused on technological innovations, with presentations on satellite imagery for agricultural planning and advanced breeding in the dairy sector. In the first session, agricultural economist Dr Shweta Saini delineated on the conference theme, emphasising the need for crop diversification in light of the climate crisis and the state of agriculture and the economy in Punjab. She highlighted key examples of impactful agricultural initiatives across different states in India. Dr. Navtej Singh Bains, former director of research, PAU, shared his insights on "Crop Diversification in Punjab: Economics vs. Ecology," while former National Rainfed Area Authority Chairman Dr. J.S. Samra discussed the impact of climate change on agriculture and proposed possible solutions to combat climate change.

The second session featured R.P.S. Gandhi, Stevia Entrepreneur and Chairman of Green Valley Stevia, who presented a case study on new avenues for crop diversification. Avtar Singh Dhindsa elaborated on floriculture as a viable agro-industry, while Dr Swamy Pentyala spotlighted on ‘Agri-Digital Platform: A Boon for Rural Marketing’. Dr A.S. Dhatt, Director (Research), PAU, delved into ‘Viable Alternative Crops for Diversification in Punjab’.

In the third technical session, Cdr. Sridhar Kotra, co-founder of Agri Matrix Pvt. Ltd., discussed the use of satellite imagery for diversified agriculture, and Dr Daljit Singh Gill gave a presentation on advancements in the dairy industry through modern breeding technologies. Dr M.S. Bhullar, Director of Extension Education, PAU, summarised the conference, with Dr. Vishal Bector, Associate Director (Institution Relations), coordinating the programme.

In his concluding remarks, Dr M.S. Bhullar reinforced that crop diversification is essential for a sustainable and resilient agricultural economy in Punjab. On the sidelines, an exhibition was organised by PAU, showcasing new research, crop varieties, machinery, and innovations.

Alok Sinha, the founder of VillageNama and former CMD of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), delivered a vote of thanks. Emphasising the importance of keeping farmers at the centre of the policymaking process, he stated that this conference marks the first step in initiating dialogue on key issues related to agriculture and the rural economy.