SOUTH ASIAN CLIMATE CHANGE MEET BEGINS Kathmandu, 3 Aug.: The South Asian Regional conference on climate change kicked off in Lalitpur on Friday to chart out common views on the ways to lessen the impact of climate change in the agriculture sector of the region, RSS reports. As many as 40 representatives including agro experts, farmer leaders and cadres from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia are taking part in the conference jointly organised by All Nepal Farmers' Federation and International Farmers Organisation, South Asian Branch on 'Impact of Climate Change in Agriculture Sector in Nepal'. On the occasion, experts from the respective countries are expected to present different working papers on risk of climate change, new alternatives in agro sector, utilization of encroached land and amendment to agro policy and the Kathmandu Declaration will be adopted based on the presentations, said the organizers. Opening the conference here on Friday, CPN-UML Vice-chairperson Bamdev Gautam said impact of climate change has increased with the developed countries over exploiting the mother earth and nature for their growth while calling on the developing countries to be cautious to prevent themselves from its ill consequences. At the programme, scientist at Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) Dr. Min Poudel said no agency has official data so far on what and how much effect the climate change has brought to Nepal. nnnn