If cleared, it will study impact of climate conditions on crops, minerals Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's hometown Baramati in Pune district would in all probability house the ambitious National Institute for Abiotic Stress proposed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This would be the first research institute of its kind to study the impact of climate conditions on crops and minerals in the country. With the Chief Minister having offered 100 acres of government land in Malegaon village in Baramati, the state is looking at bagging the proposal that is being eyed by other states as well. On Thursday, the central committee members from ICAR conducted a review of the site. Highly placed officers told The Indian Express that it was their first visit, and a report will be readied on the project. With the rising threat of global warming, though many agricultural institutes in the country were carrying out research on the impact of climate on crops, the need of comprehensive study and research was felt and provisions for the same was put forth in the eleventh plan by the Planning Commission. ICAR, that has over 100 institutes in the country, will be providing grant to this institute. Another officer said the constant change in climate conditions saw huge repercussions on the crop yield. "We are seeing erratic rainfall, high and low temperatures, increasing humidity levels, increase in soil salinity, water pollution, contamination of air with heavy metals, which are bound to draw a negative impact on the production. This kind of study will prepare us to counter such impact," he said. The institute will be looking at an integrated approach of different disciplines such as biotechnology, crop physiology, soil science and climatology. "An institutional approach was needed to address this issue. ICAR will also be looking at foreign delegates as faculty," said the officer. On Thursday, the officers who conducted the feasibility study said the focus of the survey was to check air connectivity, education facilities, water and power situation in the area. If this institute gets the green signal, it would be ICAR's sixth institute in the state. The other institutes are National Research Centre for Onion and Garlic at Rajgurunagar in Pune, National Research Centre for Grapes, Manjari, National Research Centre for Pomegranates Solapur, National Research Centre for Citrus and the National Bureau of Soil Science at Nagpur.