In the inaugural session, Dr R T Patil, Director CIPHET, welcomed the dignitaries, scientists, researchers and participants to the session. He briefly discussed the climactic requirements for plants, animals and fish. He also laid emphasis on the importance of engineering interventions for improving the productivity of plants, animals and fisheries.

Dr Patil emphasized that with climactic change, each degree rise in temperature above threshold value has a deleterious effect on productivity of cattle poultry, pigs and even cereal grains.

Dr O P Wanjari, Head, AS&EC, CIPHET, Ludhiana and convener for the seminar, spoke about the divisional activities, the technologies developed, and the background behind the seminar. PAU Vice Chancellor Dr M S Kang expressed concerns about the declining productivity, increasing population, and decrease in cultivable area. He used the example of milk production in the country, where though India is the largest producer of milk in the world, the per capita availability is still quite low.

Dr S M Ilyas, Director, National Academy for Agricultural Research and Management (NAARM), Hyderabad, and a special guest for the session, emphasized on the need to develop multipurpose structures, and develop technologies so that the complete benefits of technology can be realized. He further stressed upon an important point of optimising the parameters for utilization of resources, and encouraged farmers to take up other occupation such a livestock rearing, besides crop production under controlled conditions.

Dr Nawab Ali, Deputy Director General (Engineering), ICAR, New Delhi and Chairman for the session, stated that just like humans who perform better in a congenial environment, plants, animals and fish which are biological machines, also need a conducive environment to flourish. He expressed that the environment is an important input, which results in higher output and optimized yield.

Dr Anwar Alam, Vice Chancellor, SKUS&T, Srinagar, and the chief guest for the function, stressed upon the need for engineering interventions, and development of technologies. This, he said, was essential for expanding vertically for increased productivity, in all sectors for development of landless labourers or farmer with small land holdings.