Karachi University’s Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (ISHU) have inked an agreement with Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company to develop model cash crop cultivation farms in the Thar Desert to grow green fodder on an experimental basis. Researchers at the University of …Continue reading
Pakistan Among 5 Countries That Account for 90% of Wastewater Irrigated Farms, Study Finds
Pakistan is among five countries that account for almost 90 percent of farmland across the globe irrigated by sewage water, a study shows. China, India, Iran and Mexico are the other four countries where major portion of clean water from rivers and …Continue reading
New Report Highlights Pakistan’s Need to Adapt to Climate Change
A report launched by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) comes as a reminder about the potentially devastating impact of climate change on Asian countries under a business-as-usual scenario of up to 8.5 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures by the end of …Continue reading
Disappearing Forests
Pakistan’s forests are no longer what they used to be. At the time of partition, the country’s forest cover stood at 33 percent. By 1990, Pakistan’s forest cover had declined to 3.3 percent. Fast forward another quarter of a century, to 2015, …Continue reading
The Perils of Inaction on Climate Change
Extreme and erratic weather conditions, regular floods and lower agricultural outputs call for urgent adaptation reforms to counter the adverse effects of climate change in Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan ranks seventh in the 10 countries that are most affected by climate change globally, …Continue reading
Pakistan’s Cotton Emergency
Can technology solve the problem? Presenting a case study on Pakistan’s bleak cotton crop outlook and a need for new seed technologies. In Brief The whopping 28 percent decline in cotton yield during the last fiscal year (2015-16) shook everyone from government …Continue reading
Technology: The Missing Link in Pakistan’s Agriculture Sector
The higher cost of production has continuously been haunting the farmer community in Pakistan. This, together with climate change impact, has been resulting in poor produce and negative growth rates at times. This article is an attempt to explore the possibilities of …Continue reading
The State of Seed in Pakistan
Pakistan has its own native cotton, with a rich biodiversity of 5,000 years, however, agriculture seems to be losing its edge due to ill-chosen applications of seed technologies. In Brief Pakistan has been an agrarian economy since prehistoric times. The recent cotton …Continue reading
Agriculture: Through the Ages in Pakistan
Dr. Anjum Ali, the Director General (Extension) Punjab Agriculture Department, sheds light on Pakistan’s agricultural scene through the prism of history, technology and best farm practices. He spoke with Jawad Ali for MIT Technology Review Pakistan. Punjab was considered the food basket …Continue reading
Pakistan at Risk
A close look at climate change and its impact on Pakistan’s agriculture. In Brief Climate change is, in fact, a global phenomenon. The Earth’s temperature is on continuous rise, causing climate extremes, ultimately affecting major agricultural regions and creating food crises. Pakistan …Continue reading