Agricultural Productivity: PHHSA calls for viable strategy on climate change impacts – Pakistan
LAHORE: Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) president Shahzad Ali Malik said that agricultural production is at risk due to climate change in food insecure regions, especially in Asian countries.
Talking to a delegation of progressive farmers led by Momin Ali here on Sunday, he said that various climate-driven extremes, namely drought, heat waves, erratic and intense rainfall patterns, storms, floods and emerging insect pests have taken a toll on farmers. Livelihoods have been adversely affected. Farmer.
He said future climate predictions show a significant increase in temperature and erratic rainfall with higher intensity, while variability in climate patterns exists for extreme climate prediction.
For the mid-century (2040–2069), it is predicted that maximum temperature in Pakistan will increase by 2.8 °C and minimum temperature by 2.2 °C. To respond to the adverse effects of climate change scenarios, there is a need to adapt climate-smart and resilient agricultural practices and technology for sustainable productivity.
A case study was therefore undertaken to quantify the impacts of climate change on rice and wheat crops and develop adaptation strategies for the rice-wheat cropping system during mid-century (2040-2069) as these Two crops have a significant contribution to the food. Production.
To quantify the adverse effects of climate change in farming areas, a multidisciplinary approach included five climate models, which predicted yield reductions of 15.2% in rice and 14.1% in wheat, and another model showed That yield would decrease by 17.2% in rice and 12% in wheat.
Adaptation techniques have the potential to increase the overall productivity and profitability of rice-wheat cropping systems under climate change scenarios by modifying crop management such as sowing time and density, nitrogen and irrigation use.
Shahzad Ali Malik said that Pakistan should develop a viable strategy regarding adverse climate change impacts on agricultural productivity, related key issues, challenges and opportunities for sustainable productivity of agriculture to ensure food security in Asia.
He said changes in sowing time and planting density of crops, crop rotation with legumes, agro-forestry, mixed livestock systems, climate resilient plants, livestock and fish breeds, mono gastric livestock farming, early warning systems and decision support systems. Like the following are the opportunities. Carbon sequestration, climate, water, energy and soil smart technologies, and the promotion of biodiversity have the potential to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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