A virtual Technical Review meeting for the UN Environment implemented GEF project ‘Mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity conservation and utilization in agricultural sector to ensure ecosystem services and reduce vulnerability’ was organised on 1 June 2019. The project is being implemented in four agro-eco regions of India and seeks to develop local community-based approaches, together with necessary improved institutional frameworks at national, regional and local levels to ensure enhanced agricultural biodiversity conservation and use, providing better adaptability and resilience to changing climate and enhanced farmer livelihood. The Technical Review meeting was attended by more than thirty project partners across different project sites.
Jai Rana, the Project Coordinator, set the pace of the meeting by welcoming the partners and appreciating their efforts in implementation of project activities despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.
During the review meeting, each of the project partners made a virtual presentation on the activities being carried out and shared the plan for upcoming Kharif season 2020. They also shared the impact of COVID-19 on the project activities.
The partners apprised that activities like seed distribution, nursery sowing and capacity building for farmers were being conducted while maintaining social distancing and other precautions in light of the virus threat. The meeting concluded with an open session during which the participants engaged in active discussion on upcoming Kharif 2020 trials.
