KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRA, WYRA KHAMMAM CONDUCTED WORLD WATER DAY… LEVERAGING WATER FOR PEACE ON 22.03.2024

World Water Day is celebrated annually on 22nd March every year and the theme for the year 2024 is “Leveraging water for peace” as the value of water is about much more than its price. This day was first formally proposed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 22nd March of each year as “World Day for Water” and is being celebrated from 1993 by all countries to highlight the importance of water and raising awareness about the water crisis that the world faces. The human adult body consists of 60.0% water overall of which has brain and heart has 73.0%, lungs 83.0%, skin has 64.0%, muscles and kidneys has 79.0% and hard bones have 31.0% water. Along with it, in agriculture, water helps to grow food grains, fruits and vegetables and raise livestock as they form the main part of our diet. Agricultural water is used for irrigation, pesticide and fertilizer applications, crop cooling and frost control. But in the present-day scenario, with erratic climatic conditions, the water cycle undergoing drastic changes as warmer climate increases water evaporation from both land and oceans causing higher water holding in atmosphere and roughly 4.0% more water is retained in the atmosphere for every 1ºF rise in temperature. These changes are expected to lead to negative consequences like increased precipitation and runoff especially in winter and spring leading to increased flooding in some regions whereas less precipitation in the warm months causing longer and more severe droughts as storm tracks shift northward leaving arid areas increasingly dry. The declining water quality is another consequence of climate change. The rise in water temperature in streams, lakes, and reservoirs as air temperature rises leads to lowered dissolved oxygen in water causing stress on the fish, insects, crustaceans and other aquatic animals that rely on oxygen. As more and more intense precipitation leads to increased runoff in certain regions more pollution will be washed into waterways as sediments, nitrogen from agriculture, disease pathogens, pesticides and herbicides causing blooming of harmful algae and bacteria. One of the starkest effects of climate change is the rise in sea level worldwide due to the expansion of the ocean as it warms and the increased melting of ice sheets, ice caps and glaciers. Along with alarming threats to coastal communities, infrastructure, economies and ecosystems, the rise has implications for available freshwater as rising sea levels drive saltwater into freshwater aquifers. To be useful for drinking or irrigating purpose, more water from our aquifers needs to be treated which can be energy and cost intensive and processes. Given the wide range of human activities dependant directly or indirectly on water, future climate-driven changes in water resources will affect all aspects of our lives. KVK, Wyra celebrated World Water Day with Department of Agriculture, Khammam Dt. and AICRP on Integrated Farming System, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad as part of field day “Crop Diversification” during rabi with emphasis on zero tillage maize and cultivation of pulses at Ramakrishnapuram (V), Chintakani (M), Khammam (Dt.). The technology of zero tillage in maize and pulse cultivation as alternatives to paddy is a very effective water conservation technology. This crop diversification helps in regenerating soils and protects kharif paddy for pests and infestations. The participants were sensitized on the need for judicious use of water and preserve it for future generation as was passed to us by our forefathers. The meeting was attended by Dr. R. Uma Reddy, ADR, RARS, Warangal, Dr. M. Goverdhan, Principal Scientist and Head, AICRP – IFS, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Dr. M. Vijaya Nirmala, DAO, Khammam, Mr. T. Ranapratap, REAC member, PJTSAU, Dr. K. Ravi Kumar, Programme Coordinator (FAC), Scientists of Dr. Jessie Suneetha W and Mrs. P. S. M. Phanisri of KVK, Wyra along with scientists of ARS, Madhira and AICRP – IFS, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad along with AOs, AEOs, IV BSc (Agriculture) RAWEP students and large number of farmers from various mandals of Khammam district.