The climate change, land degradation, water scarcity and genetic erosion are the biggest threats to the agriculture sector in Pakistan in general and in Sindh particular HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 02nd Feb, 2018 ):The climate change, land degradation, water scarcity and genetic erosion are the biggest threats to the agriculture sector in Pakistan in general and in Sindh particular.
This was stated by Hadi Bux Laghari, a Farm Consultant while delivering a lecture at graduate seminar on voices from the field: Climate Change Adoption in local farmers in Sindh, held on Friday at U. S.-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Jamshoro.
He said in recent past, the greed of maximum yields attracted the farmers to use the imported seed which did not only consume more water and pesticides but cause the genetic erosion of the soil and land degradation.
Consumption of open-cross pollination and hybrid seed production cause various diseases in the consequences of the maximum use of pesticides and fertilizers, he added.
He was of the view that the use of native seed, though has limited productivity as compared to its imported counterpart, was more beneficial in the long run not only for the health of human but also the health of the soil.
He maintained that there is a huge gap exists among the farmer community, government, academia, industry, research organizations, water and agriculture service providers in the country.
He emphasized on the integrated efforts to adopt the climate changes very efficiently and effectively in the best interests of the economy of the country and prosperity of the people.
The speaker also shared his field work for different horticulture projects including mangoes and bananas, in which he worked as a technical manager.
Among others, the Deputy Director (Academics and Research) of USPCAS-W Mehran University Prof. Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar and Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator Muhammad Ali Nizamani also addressed the participants of the seminar.