DDG (NRM), ICAR, Inaugurates International Salinity Conference 3.0 (WE-CARE 2025)

29 October–1 November 2025, Goa

The International Salinity Conference 3.0 (WE-CARE 2025) was inaugurated on 29 October 2025 by Dr. A.K. Nayak, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR. The four-day conference, being held from 29 October to 1 November 2025 at ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Old Goa, was jointly organized by the Indian Society of Soil Salinity and Water Quality, Karnal, and the Association for Coastal Agricultural Research, Old Goa, in collaboration with ICAR–Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, and ICAR–CCARI, Goa.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Nayak emphasized that soil and water salinity are major constraints affecting agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and food security, particularly in arid, semi-arid, and coastal regions. He stressed the importance of science- and technology-based innovations for building sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems. Highlighting the urgency of addressing salinity under increasing climate variability and water resource challenges, he commended ICAR–CSSRI and ICAR–CCARI for organizing the global event, which brings together scientists, policymakers, and experts from SAARC, AARDO, JIRCAS, ICBA, and several other international institutions.

Dr. Nayak underscored the need to maintain the ecological balance of fragile saline ecosystems and expressed confidence that the conference would yield actionable policy recommendations and strengthen international research partnerships on salinity management and ecosystem restoration.

Dr. R.K. Yadav, Director, ICAR–CSSRI, Karnal, briefed the participants on the objectives and structure of the conference, noting that discussions would be held across six thematic areas encompassing scientific, technological, and policy dimensions of salinity management.

Dr. S.K. Chaudhari, Director General, Fertilizer Association of India, and Former DDG (NRM), ICAR, shared global perspectives on salinity management and precision agriculture efforts in Australia, Europe, and Africa. Dr. Gurbachan Singh, Former Chairman, ASRB, New Delhi, reflected on the issue of resodification and traced the evolution and achievements of ISSSWQ since its inception.

In his welcome address, Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR–CCARI, Goa, highlighted the institute’s achievements and technologies developed for coastal saline soil management. He informed that a special session on sustainable coastal agriculture would focus on climate-resilient varieties, integrated farming systems, and efficient resource-use strategies to counter the effects of salinity, sea-level rise, and land degradation.

The inaugural session was also graced by Dr. R. Thamizh Vendan, Acting Vice Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore; Dr. P.L. Patil, Vice Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad; Dr. B.R. Kamboj, Vice Chancellor, CCS HAU, Hisar; Dr. N.K. Tyagi, Former ASRB Member and Former Director, ICAR–CSSRI; and Padma Shri awardee farmer Shri Sanjay Patil, recognized for his pioneering efforts in natural farming.

The conference has drawn participation from over 200 delegates representing India and several SAARC and AARDO member countries, including Japan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Dubai, Oman, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Gambia, Eswatini, and Lebanon.

During the inaugural ceremony, various publications of ISSSWQ were released, and fellowships and awards, including the Fellow of the Society, and the Best Ph.D. and M.Sc. Thesis Awards, were conferred to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of soil salinity and water quality research.

(Source: ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa)