KARACHI:
Experts have warned that salinity in soil and groundwater is severely affecting agricultural production in the country, causing losses to farmers and endangering food security.
The warning comes at a time when the world’s rapidly changing climate has wreaked havoc in the form of floods, droughts and heat waves in Pakistan and elsewhere, destroying crops and ruining the livelihoods of many people.
Experts said salinity in soil and groundwater could actually have a negative impact on agricultural production, as it could stunt plant growth and reduce crop yields.
They said in Sindh, where agriculture was an important part of the economy, addressing salinity issues was vital to maintain crop productivity and ensure food security.
These experts were sharing their views at a one-day training program for farmers organized at the Sindh Agricultural University (SAU) under the auspices of the Australian Research Council.
The objective of the event was to provide technical training to salt-affected farmers in the Indus Basin region of Sindh under the Indus Basin Salinity Adaptation project.
Experts pointed out that measures such as improved irrigation practices, drainage systems and soil management techniques could help mitigate the effects of salinity in the region.
They suggested that promoting salt-tolerant crop varieties and implementing policies to conserve water resources could also be useful and beneficial in combating salinity challenges.
SAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jan Muhammad Marri said that in Sindh, adverse effects on agricultural production were observed due to salinity in soil and groundwater.
He stressed the importance of training farmers to make such land cultivable and deal with salinity. In terms of salinity, he added, Sindh was the most affected province of Pakistan.
Marri said Australia’s Indus Basin Salinity Adaptation project would not only make farmland arable through research and recommendations from agriculture and water experts, but also enable all stakeholders to play an important role in restoration of the lands severely affected by saline and in their production. .
Dean of SAU’s School of Crop Production, Dr Inayatullah Rajper, said the effects of salinity were present in soil and water in all the four provinces, particularly due to the use of non-prescription fertilizers, which required technical assistance for the affected farmers.
Later, during the technical session and training, various eminent agriculture experts like Dr Muneer Ahmed Mangrio, Dr Muharram Ali, Dr Jawed Umrani, Bhawani Shankar and others imparted training to a large number of farmers, who they came from different parts of Sindh including Hyderabad. , Tando Muhammad Khan, Jamshoro, Matiari, Sanghar, Badin and Tando Allahyar.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 9u2024.
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