NAGPUR: The ever-increasing environmental
degradation can be attributed to various causes. But human or anthropogenic
activities are the biggest culprits. Yet it is science and technology developed
by man which alone can restore the environment. And good agriculture practices
and use of biotechnology can play a very big role in this direction.
These views were expressed by Raviprakash Dani,
vice-chancellor of Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth ( PDKV) here on
Wednesday. He was delivering the Ashok Juwarkar memorial lecture organized by
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri). Juwarkar was a
senior institute scientist who died in a plane crash while on duty. He had
conducted many environmental restoration projects, including the remediation of
mine dumps of MOIL in Dongargaon.
The talk titled "Biotechnology and
environmental reclamation: The agriculture factor" though focused on
agriculture, it did raise issues of environmental pollution by industry,
transport and domestic sources. Agriculture activities like excessive use of
pesticides, fertilizers, illegal cleaning of forests besides pollution and
degradation of soil, water and air have also reduced the biodiversity.
Dani suggested certain solutions for restoration
of environment through minimizing use of pesticides and fertilizers, preventing
soil erosion, phyto-remediation of contaminated soil, conversion of agri-waste
into valued added products, development of new technologies to mitigate climate
change and green house gases.
Biotechnology, Dani said, also can help mitigate
environment pollution. Diseases and drought-resistant varieties, use of
biotechnology in conservation of biodiversity, improving soil fertility through
nitrogen fixing, bacteria use of genetic engineering and manipulations are some
of the biotechnological methods of minimizing environment degradation.
Biotechnology, he said, could also be used for reclamation of toxic waste
sites.
He advised scientists to pursue research which is
justified by community and revisit their research work regularly based on the
updated information and changed circumstances. He emphasized on the need for
community managed sustainable agriculture.
Earlier, Satish Wate, Neeri director, apprised
the gathering of various achievements of the institute in the recent past. He
stressed on the need for proactive research to solve pollution-related issues.
He said the research work done by Dr Juwarkar laid a new foundation in the area
of agriculture and environment, and Neeri is continuously progressing in this
area.
Jaya Sabjiwale conducted the proceedings while
Prakash Kumbhare, head, R&D Planning Division, proposed a vote of thanks.
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