M. S. Swaminathan (Chairman, M. S. S. Foundation, Chennai):
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. We can classify our crops into those which are climate resilient and those which are climate sensitive. For example, what is a climate sensitive crop, while rice shows a wide range of adaptation in term of growing conditions? We will have problems with reference to crops like potato since a higher temperature will render raising disease-free seed potatoes in the plains of northwest India difficult. We will have to shift to cultivating potato from true sexual seed. The relative importance of different diseases and pests will get altered. The wheat crop may suffer more from stem rust which normally remains important only in Peninsular India. A search for new genes conferring climate resilience is therefore urgent.
Irina Bokova (Director-General of UNESCO):
UNESCO should take the lead in formulating a comprehensive policy on education, not only looking at primary and secondary education but also higher education and link the three to vocational and technical training. We must tap all available resources and formulate an overall policy which will look at education from different perspectives. I am not only speaking about culture as a means to conflict resolution and as the search for identity.
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. We can classify our crops into those which are climate resilient and those which are climate sensitive. For example, what is a climate sensitive crop, while rice shows a wide range of adaptation in term of growing conditions? We will have problems with reference to crops like potato since a higher temperature will render raising disease-free seed potatoes in the plains of northwest India difficult. We will have to shift to cultivating potato from true sexual seed. The relative importance of different diseases and pests will get altered. The wheat crop may suffer more from stem rust which normally remains important only in Peninsular India. A search for new genes conferring climate resilience is therefore urgent.
Irina Bokova (Director-General of UNESCO):
UNESCO should take the lead in formulating a comprehensive policy on education, not only looking at primary and secondary education but also higher education and link the three to vocational and technical training. We must tap all available resources and formulate an overall policy which will look at education from different perspectives. I am not only speaking about culture as a means to conflict resolution and as the search for identity.
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