Floriculture conference: Experts call for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing soil carbon

Experts at a floriculture conference in Shivamogga stress the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil carbon levels.

Vice-Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University in Karnal, Haryana, Suresh Kumar Malhotra, has stressed the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in the coming years to mitigate climate change.

Speaking after inaugurating a three-day national conference on ‘Floriculture and Landscaping @2047 Viksit Bharat’ organised at the College of Agriculture in Shivamogga on Monday, Mr. Malhotra said greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture had been estimated to be around 15%. “We need to take up measures to bring it down to 5% by 2047,” he said.

Noting that soil carbon levels had averaged at 0.3%, Mr. Malhotra advocated measures to increase the levels to 1%. “We need to go for modernisation and mechanisation of agriculture. Similarly, we need to adopt artificial intelligence wherever necessary,” he opined.

Mr. Malhotra, who is also president of the Indian Society of Ornamental Horticulture, stated that ornamental horticulture had been offering wonderful environmental services, which remain hardly acknowledged. “There are many ornamental trees that sequester carbon dioxide. By planting ornamental trees in one hectare of land, we can sequester more than 90 tonnes of carbon dioxide,” he stated.

T. Janakirami, former Vice-Chancellor of YSR Horticulture University in Andhra Pradesh, stressed the integration of information technology with horticulture to improve efficiency and productivity. He also highlighted the importance of conserving and promoting indigenous plant wealth.

R.C. Jagadeesha, Vice-Chancellor of KSNUAHS, said that the primary objective of the conference was to bring together policymakers, researchers, students, and stakeholders on a common platform to foster collaboration and growth in the floriculture sector. Hemla Naik, director of education of KSNUAHS and organising secretary of the conference, said that 240 delegates, including scientists and students from different places, were taking part in the conference.