ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (INP-WealthPK): A systematic approach is need of the hour to address food security challenge in Pakistan, according to speakers at an international symposium titled “Climate Smart Sustainable Rice and Wheat Production System”.

At the symposium held at University of the Punjab in cooperation with COMSTECH, UPSIGN, SAWIE, SACAN and Dawood Agro, eminent scientists emphasized design policies, indigenous farming solutions and better management of the most important resources of soil and water to address the climate change crisis.

Addressing the symposium, Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Prof Shahid Munir said food security is strategically important for Pakistan to feed its growing population. He said the research and industry linkages can play a vital role in developing new technologies and promoting farmers to enhance their yield under the changing climatic conditions. He stressed the need to develop innovative solutions for efficient and sustainable use of water, improving nutrient use efficiency and reducing the crop losses from pests and diseases.

Director General Punjab Agriculture Research Nawaz Khan shared developments of the Punjab Agriculture Department to develop climate-smart varieties to address the water scarcity and heat challenge. He said that rice and wheat crop yields in Pakistan are low compared to the rest of the world due to an array of factors such as water shortage, crop pests and disease infestations, and improper use of fertilizers like nitrogen.

Program Manager COMSTECH Khazima gave an overview of COMSTECH's support for promoting science and innovation in the Muslim world to tackle the food security challenge.

Co-founder UPSIGN Dr. Khalid Mahmood emphasized on the need to better build collaboration, cooperation, and communication among all the stakeholders.

Dr. Mahmood Farooq from Sultan Qaboos University said that Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries severely affected by climate change causing unprecedented droughts, floods, the influx of pests, diseases and locust attacks in 2020, and the severe heat wave in 2022 affecting wheat crop.

CEO of SAWIE/SACAN Eng Mushtaq Gill said Pakistan needs to address its rice and wheat system on an emergency basis.

Director of Rice Research Institute Syed Sultan Ali said rice production in Pakistan is 100% dependent on flood irrigation which consumes 35% of total water available in the country. “Its future is at risk if we do not promote sustainable practices,” he added.

International speaker Prof Bijay Singh from Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana said there is a dire need for a second green revolution to enhance our grain yields based on developing strong communication links between farmers, academicians, planners and politicians.

Adil Farooq, from Dawood Agro said through mechanical planting, we can increase the plant population of 120,000 plants per acre to achieve 40 mounds yield compared to 15 mounds. This will help to spare land to grow other crops.

FAO in charge of Conservation Agriculture Prof Kassam stressed the need to educate farmers about conserving natural resource soil and water by promoting practices like zero tillage method, optimal agronomic practices such as balanced application of fertilizer and irrigation schedule.

Farah Naz from GAIN said, “We need to promote the seed varieties and use of balanced fertilizer with trace elements of Zinc & Boron to address malnutrition in Pakistan.”

The participants of the symposium recommended the need for establishing a centre of excellence in conservation agriculture and digital climate-smart farming solutions at the Punjab University.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk