Anand Basnet, Gangtok 12 Mar:
A ‘brainstorming seminar’ on “Futuristic Economics: Promoting Sustainable Development and Welfare”, organized by the Central Agricultural University, with technical support from the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Mumbai, concluded here today.
The two-day event, co-sponsored by ICAR-ATARI, Guwahati, NABARD, NEDFi, SBI, and Alembic Pharma Company, brought together experts, policymakers, researchers, and academicians to explore the intersections of economic sustainability, technological advancements, and climate resilience in agriculture.
The valedictory programme today, started with a welcome address by Prof Ram Singh, Convenor, Dean-CoA, CAU, Kyrdemkulai.
Sessions were held on seven themes and 26 subthemes during the seminar, it is informed. Experts deliberated on Sustainability in Farming – Strategies for resource conservation, organic agriculture, and circular economy models; Technological Innovations – AI, IoT, blockchain, and digital tools transforming agribusiness and food security; Economic Models for Agri-Business – Financing options, e-commerce platforms, and carbon trading prospects; Climate Resilience in Agriculture – Policy frameworks and adaptation techniques to mitigate climate impact.
Dr Puranjan Das, former Deputy Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, in his concluding remarks highlighted the importance of policy-driven initiatives to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture, innovative financial models, and sustainable food systems. He stressed the need for collaboration between academia, industry, and government to ensure long-term benefits for rural economies. He emphasized that the discussions from the seminar shall be compiled into a policy document, which will serve as a roadmap for further research and policy recommendations.
Addressing the valedictory function, Dr Anupam Mishra, Vice Chancellor, CAU-Imphal, applauded the seminar for its multi-disciplinary approach and reiterated CAU’s commitment to bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, ensuring that knowledge generated through such forums leads to actionable solutions for farmers and policymakers.
