WORLD EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, PALEM on 22-04-2022

Agricultural College, Palem in collaboration with RARS, KVK and DAATTC of Palem campus have celebrated ‘World Earth Day’ on 22nd April, 2022 at the auditorium of Agricultural College, Palem. Dr. B. Pushpavathi, Associate Dean, Agricultural College, Palem, Dr. M. Goverdhan, ADR, RARS, Palem, Dr. T. Prabhakar Reddy, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Palem, Dr. A. Ramakrishna Babu, Coordinator, DAATTC, Palem, Mrs. Ramadevi, Director, Ground Water Department, Nagarkurnool and Sri. Venkanna, DAO representative of Nagarkurnool have participated in the inaugural session, and the session was chaired by Associate Dean, Agricultural College, Palem. The programme started with invocation of university song followed by lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries on the dais. During the introductory remarks, Dr. B. Pushpavathi, Associate Dean, Agricultural College, Palem elaborated on various aspects of climate change and soil pollution which affects the earth's flora, fauna and human beings. Further, emphasized ‘Invest in our Planet’, the theme of World Earth Day-2022, and highlighted the benefits of healthy ecosystems which are essential to regulate the earth’s climate to mitigate further catastrophic climatic changes, as well as to provide physical and social resilience associated with sea-level rise and extreme weather abnormalities that are already unavoidable. Also stressed reuse, recycling and restoration of natural resources to meet current basic human needs, while preserving for future generations. Dr. M. Goverdhan, Associate Director of Research, RARS, Palem advocated the farmers to follow regenerative agricultural practices to restore the soils and ecologies to fight climate change for a spark economic development. Additionally, stressed carbon credits to improve regenerative agricultural practices such as cover crops, incorporation of crop residues, and other conservative agricultural practices. After the inaugural session, the speakers from different departments have covered various topics on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their power-point presentations and the details are as follows.

i. A video on “Save Soil Movement” and power-point presentation on “Student for Soil Programme” received from Isha Foundation by Dr. KasturiRajamani, Assistant Professor &HOD, SSAC, Agricultural College, Palem
ii. “Global warming & climate change impact on agriculture” by Dr. T. Prabhakar Reddy, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Palem iii. “Impact of pesticides on soil health” by Dr. O. Shaila, Scientist (Entomology), RARS, Palem
iv. “Climate resilient crops for sustainable production” by Dr D. Shashibhushan, Associate Professor (Pl. Br), Agricultural College, Palem.
v. “Groundwater status, quality & pollution risk at Nagarkurnool” by Mrs. Ramadevi, Director, Ground Water Department, Nagarkurnool.

At the end of the programme, all the participants have taken oath on “Resource Conservation” towards conserving the environment resources to keep the earth alive. Further, certificates and prizes were distributed to the winners of different events (Elocution, Essay writing, Drawing, Quiz and Documentary) conducted to students on the eve of ‘World Earth Day-2022’. Also, felicitated Sri Chandraiah (Organic farmer) and Sri.Madhusudan Reddy (IFS farmer) of Nagarkurnool district who are practicing soil and water conservation measures regularly at their farm activities. A total of 250 students, 35 farmers (from the adopted village and nearby villages) along with all the teaching staff of Palem campus have attended the programme.