Pakistan will face severe stress in per capita water availability which will be declined to its ever-lowest level of 1000 cubic metre (M3) in 2010 for 168 million population as increase in tube-wells numbers from 325,179 in 1989-90 to 957,916 in 2005-06 were pumping 70 percent brackish water which causes soil degradation.
This was stated by Higher Education Commission (HEC) member Dr Kauser Abdullah in a special lecture on 'Food Security, Agriculture Research and Academia', at the new Senate Hall here.
He said that scientists had successfully introduced some workable water conservation measures but there was dire need to shift the farmers' irrigation practices to 'raised beds' technology, high efficiency irrigation system, sulphurous acid generators for amending brackish water and gypsum in water channels and storage tanks. He said that the world had witnessed 40 percent food price hike in 2007 which reached up to 50 percent in the first quarter of 2008.
He said that wheat productivity and fertiliser efficiency has deteriorated from 22 tons (wheat/t of NPK) in 1985 to 12 tons (wheat/t of NPK). So, there was need for application of micronutrients, promote bio-fertilisers, encouraging fertigation to reduce nitrogen nutrient losses, site specific fertiliser recommendations based on soil testing, and expansion/upgradation of soil testing service.
Earlier, Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, VC, UAF, lauded the services of Dr Kauser and highlighted UAF contribution regarding on-farm research program. He said that UAF was going to set up a 'technology park' at the UAF campus to bring forward its achievements on massive grounds.
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