Joint efforts urged to curb climate change effects

Agri experts have called for joint efforts to curb climate change effects on agricultural productivity with the help of adaptation and mitigating strategies and development of climate resilient varieties. They stated this while addressing a workshop on "Agricultural Model Inter comparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP)" hand-on trainings phase second arranged at University of Agriculture.
UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that ecological cropping zones were being redefined keeping changing climate in view. He said that with increasing temperature, unusual weather behaviour was being witnessed. He said that the agriculture sector was facing the severe challenge owing to climate changes. He was of the view that collaborative work will come up with viable solutions to boost up the agriculture. He showed his concern that rainfall volatility, increased drought and rising temperatures affect crop yields.
He said that during last year the cotton production had faced the 40 percent decline. He said that the government was redesigning the agriculture policy to fight the challenge. DG Pakistan Met Department Ghulam Rasool stressed upon the need to make the joint efforts to fight the challenges. He said that joint efforts are needed to ensure the food and nutrition security in the country.
He said water scarcity is going from bad to worse. He said that the per person water availability is less than 1000 cubic metre that puts Pakistan into water scarce country. Dean Faculty of Agriculture Dr Muhammad Amjad said that new climate tolerant varieties will help address the problem of climate changes.
He said that due to climate changes, even crop areas are changing. He said that we have to work together to address the issue at massive level. He said that if we could not take the measures to fight the challenges, the issue of food sands nutrition insecurity would deepen. AgMip Lead Principal Investigator Dr Ashafaq Ahmad Chatha stressed upon the need to develop trained manpower on the issue of climate effects on the agriculture sector.