The 13th International Conference on Dryland Development, with the theme “Converting Dry Areas from Grey to Green”, will be organized by the International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC) and hosted by the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) and Arid Zone Research Association of India (AZRAI), from 11-14 February 2019, at Jodhpur, India. It will be cosponsored by Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), New Delhi; Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi; National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi; Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), New Delhi; Arid Land Research Center (ALRC), Japan; Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development (AFSED*), Kuwait; Bioversity International; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO*); International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD*); International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA*); Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)*; OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID*); World Agroforestry Centre (WAC*); and Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI*); Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in Near East and North Africa (AARINENA*); Central Asia and Caucasus Association of Agricultural Research Institutes, (CACAARI*); and Forum of the Americas on Agricultural Research and Technology Development (FORAGRO*).
Drylands cover about 41% of earth’s land area and are home to ~38% of world population. Majority (>90%) of the people of this ecosystem live in developing countries. With fragile natural resource base, achieving food security there has been a great challenge. With the threat of climate change looming large, and additional threat of massive out migration, the livelihoods of more than 2 billion people who live in these areas, will be further at risk. The efforts of research and development community and policy makers dealing with dry areas and aiming at sustainable management of natural resources have to be boosted in order to optimize adaptive mechanism and risk aversion elements for the dryland communities. Fast sharing of knowledge among all the stakeholders and capacity building will have to be an essential element of these efforts. Institutional reforms at the ecosystem level to bridge the divide in governance of different natural resources including water coupled with global commitment for greater coordination in legal, policy and management issues shall pave the path for sustainable livelihood security in drylands.
The International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC), an autonomous nongovernmental nonprofit organization established in 1978 by the individuals and institutions interested in and concerned about the sustainable development of dry areas, is promoting all aspects of dryland studies by fostering cooperation, collaboration and networking between various international, regional and national organizations. One of the important modus operandi of the networking of IDDC has been to hold a major scientific conference at periodic intervals to provide opportunity to participants from around the world to exchange research results and experiences in dryland development and combating desertification. So far 12 such conference have been organized in last 40 years, in countries which have large areas under drylands. The 13th International Conference on Dryland Development, with the theme “Converting drylands from grey to green”, is being therefore organized by IDDC, 11-14 February 2019, in collaboration with ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (ICAR-CAZRI) and Arid Zone Research Association of India (AZRAI), at Jodhpur, India with an objective to share technical knowledge and innovations emerging from recent research and development efforts of various institutions and organizations around the world. This will help to prepare a roadmap for sustainable development of drylands areas in the face of changing climates and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) agreed to by the global community.
Themes of the Conference
1. Impact of Climate Change in Drylands
2. Managing Land Degradation and Desertification
3. Soil Health Management, Carbon Sequestration and Conservation Agriculture
4. Water Harvesting and Improving Water Productivity
5. Conservation and Use of Agrobiodiversity in Drylands
6. Sustainable Intensification and Diversification in Drylands - Arid-horticulture, Aquaculture
and Protected Agriculture
7. Livestock, Rangeland and Agroforestry Management
8. Post-harvest Management and Value Chain
9. Renewable Energy, Farm Mechanization and Automation
10. Role of Policies, Institutions and Markets in improving Livelihood Security and Resilience of Dryland Communities.
Papers
Papers are invited focusing scientific and developmental aspects within the framework of the themes defined above. They should build on existing knowledge and have projections for future direction. They could be presented orally or as poster as decided by the Organizing Committee. Persons planning to present paper at the Conference should submit a one page, single spaced abstract of 200-300 words by 30 September 2018 in the online registration form at the specified place. Manuscript of accepted papers in detail must be submitted by 10th January 2019. Papers must be formatted as per the attached guidelines to the authors. The Conference language will be English. The Proceedings containing the papers presented at the Conference will be edited by IDDC and AZRAI and published by IDDC by the end of July 2019. One copy of the proceedings volume would be provided to registered participants.
Registration
The registration fee for foreign participants is US$ 500 (US$ 350 for students) for those registering by 30 November 2018. Fee for registration is US$ 600 (US$ 450 for students) from 1 January 2019. Fee for registration later than this date would be US$ 700 (US$ 550 for students). The registration fee for participants from India is Rs 10,000/- (Rs 5000/- for students) for those registering by 30 November 2018. Fee for registration is Rs 12,000 (Rs 6,000 for students) by 1 January 2019. Fee for registration later than this date would be Rs 15,000 (Rs 7,000 for students). Fee for accompanying member is US$ 100 (for foreign members) and Rs 5000/- (for Indian members). The registration fee covers local transportation in Jodhpur between the place of stay and the Conference hall and workshop, publications including the proceedings and Conference kit, and coffee/tea/snacks during the forenoon and afternoon breaks, and lunch for 4 days (11-14 February 2019). The host country will provide a welcome dinner on 10 February 2019.
Plenary lectures and Special sponsored mini symposium: The Conference plans to organize a series of plenary lectures by eminent speakers daily. Theme wise oral and poster presentations in different sessions will be organized concurrently. On request, there can be a half day mini symposium sponsored by collaborating scientific organizations. In addition, AZRAI will be organizing a half day mini symposium on “Enhancing Resilience of Arid Lands.”
Conference Deadlines
Receipt of abstracts: 30 September 2018
Acceptance of papers / posters for presentation: 25 October 2018
Early registration deadline: 30 November 2018
Full manuscripts to be submitted to the organizers: 10 January 2019
Persons interested in attending the Conference should complete the attached form and return it to the address indicated. This will ensure that additional information and registration material is timely provided to the prospective participants, and will assist in planning.
Spouse program will be arranged.
Post Conference Tour: It is proposed to organize a 2 day (15-16 February 2019) field tour for the delegates on payment basis to Jaisalmer, the golden city located in Thar Desert, India.
For more information, please visit: http://www.apaari.org/web/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2018/13th_IDDC_FirstAnnouncement01.pdf