This was discussed at a seminar — Battle Lines: Global Warming, — organised by city-based NGO SOCLEEN on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, VL Chopra, member of the Planning Commission, said: "India should take steps to strengthen environment protection."

Furthermore, mobilising social action to implement the Centre's schemes at the grassroots is very important, added Chopra, who is the former director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released India's first National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) on June 30, 2008. The plan outlines existing and future policies and programs addressing climate mitigation and adaptation. It identifies eight core "national missions" running through 2017 and directs ministries to submit detailed implementation plans to the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change by December 2008, he said.

While steps have been taken to encourage plant-breeding methods, which are resistant to the changing climate, it will take at least 15 years to develop a resistant breed. Changing climate has already started having an impact on the vegetation in India, Chopra said.

Meanwhile, agricultural universities in Gujarat will be coordinating with IARI, which is developing a comprehensive programme strategy to prepare an action plan to build up plant breeding methods.