NEWS

The Navsari Agriculture University (NAU) has undertaken a research project to study the impact of pollution on farming and agriculture in the industrial belt stretching from Bharuch to Vapi in South Gujarat. The five-year research project will also suggest change in crop patterns and alternative crop varieties that the farmers could opt for at the end of the study. Bharuch to Vapi in South Gujarat falls in the most industrialized area of the state which is referred as Golden industrial corridor. Various issues that will be covered under the project would include amount of chemicals in water, air and land, effect of greenhouse gases and ozone depletion. “We have begun work on the research project and are analysing the data for past 10 years for how the pollution levels have affected the crops. We are also studying the present status environment and climate change ," he said. Deputy Vice Chancellor of NAU S C Pathak said that once the conclusions are drawn after survey and study of various factors, it will be shared with the farmers in the region so that they can make suitable change in their crop pattern or opt for better variety of seeds which are more pollution resistant.