Comprehensive agricultural management requires scientifically integrated decision support systems. Simulation modelling in climate change research is one such approach that also permits decoupling the effects of individual biotic and abiotic factors. As such, a training workshop for National Agricultural Research System (NARS) scientists entitled "Crop Simulation Modelling for Managing Agriculture under Changing Climates" was organized by The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT under the UN Environment implemented GEF project “Mainstreaming agricultural biodiversity conservation and utilization in agricultural sector to ensure ecosystem services and reduce vulnerability” and in collaboration with the Division of Environment Science, ICAR -Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, from 22 – 26 May 2023. The one-week programme was attended by 24 scientists invited from several ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and The Alliance.
The training workshop began with a brief inaugural session where Dr JC Rana, Country Representative, India, The Alliance; Dr SN Kumar, Head, Division of Environment Science, IARI; Prof RN Padaria, Joint Director (Extn), IARI; and Chief Guest, Dr Rajbir Singh, ADG (Agron, AF and CC), ICAR commented on the importance of building modelling skills of NARS scientists and the potential areas of application. The training workshop was a mix of lectures on several relevant topics including plant growth and development, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, climate change and agriculture, Carbon-Nitrogen dynamics, and hands-on training with InfoCrop v2.1, developed and released by the IARI, and the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) v4.8. Course instructors included Course Director Dr. SN Kumar, Head, Division of Environment Science, IARI; Dr Arti Bhatia, Principal Scientist, IARI; Dr Bidisha Chakrabarti, Principal Scientist, IARI; Dr RS Rana, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur; Dr. Subhas Chander, Principal Scientist, IARI; and Dr. Dakshina Murthy Kadiyala, Professor (Agronomy), University of Florida, Gainesville, who instructed participants on DSSAT in virtual mode. One field visit was scheduled for the IARI Climate Change Facility and the Phenomics Facility. The training workshop concluded with a closing ceremony where participants were presented with certificates by Dr AK Singh, Director, IARI.
