HYDERABAD: Sindh Minister for Agriculture Sardar Mohammad Bakhsh Mahar has said the provincial government has launched “Climate Smart Technology” to address impacts of climate change on agriculture and ensure food security by achieving higher yields with limited resources.

The minister said at inauguration ceremony for the initiative in Tandojam on Saturday that the technology included establishment of a modern maximum residual level (MRL) laboratory to prevent spread of Panama disease, promote early cotton cultivation and test pesticide residues in agricultural commodities.

Pakistan which contributed to global carbon emissions marginally was facing severe impacts of climate change. Agriculture was backbone of economy which was hit by floods, droughts, glacial melting and unpredictable rainfall, he said.

He said that in the light of these challenges, agricultural research institutions in Sindh had introduced the advanced “Climate Smart Technology” to ensure food security by achieving higher yields amidst limited resources.

He said the technology could save 25pc to 30pc of water for wheat and increase production by 10pc to 15pc. Double-row planting method for wheat could reduce seed usage by 60pc while cultivation of low-water crops like mustard could serve as a better alternative during droughts, he said.

He said that other initiatives included tunnel farming of vegetables, trial plantation of saffron in local soil, production of disease-free banana plants, early cotton cultivation and establishment of an MRL laboratory.

He said that the goal of Climate Smart Technology was to minimise effects of climate change and establish sustainable agricultural practices in Sindh. These advanced technologies would help address challenges faced by agricultural production, he said. He said that if adopted on a large scale, such techniques could increase farmers’ income and improve agricultural exports.

He informed that these measures marked a significant milestone toward a brighter future for agriculture. Agricultural research institutions were committed to working with farmers to ensure implementation of techniques, enabling effective mitigation of climate change risks, he said.

Secretary of Agriculture Sohail Ahmed Qureshi, DG Research Dr Mazhar Ali Keerio, DG Engineering Syed Nadeem Shah, Sindh Abadgar Board president Mahmood Nawaz Shah, growers leaders Syed Nadeem Shah Jamot, Nabi Bux Sathio and others also attended the program.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2025