‘Biotechnology, hydroponic farming solutions to food insecurity’

Islamabad : Scientists, academics and industry experts joined their voice together on the urgent need to strengthen the country’s agricultural infrastructure to withstand the increasing impacts of climate change.

They were expressing their views during a session on “Transforming food systems for climate-resilient food security in Pakistan” organised here by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) for its annual Sustainable Development Conference (SDC).

Eric Kenefick, a representative from World Food Programme (WFP), opened the discussion with an overall assessment of Pakistan’s agricultural sector, which sustains a significant portion of the population. He stressed the importance of building resilience in food systems to mitigate the effects of climate shocks such as heatwaves and floods, which have been devastating crop yields and livelihoods. “Agriculture sustains and employs so many people in Pakistan, therefore we need to ensure that these food systems are capable to withstand climate shocks and become more resistant,” Mr Kenefick said.

Tallal Hakeem from APAC stressed the importance of not just focusing on food, but on “nutritious food.” He also highlighted the negative environmental impacts of the shift towards cash crops in Pakistan, which led to ecological degradation. These challenges including the focus of farmers on cash crops instead of food crops, along with climate change, must be addressed if we are to secure food systems for the future, he added.

Alessia de Caterina from the World Food Programme (WFP) Italy who called for increased investment in food systems and stressed the importance of raising awareness among policymakers about the long-term impacts of climate change on food security. The first step is to raise awareness at the highest levels of government, she said adding that Pakistan already has the framework in place but what is needed now is the active collaboration of all stakeholders to implement and refine it.

Mohammad Osama from Namal University presented a promising solution in the form of solar-powered hydroponic farming. This soilless agricultural technique allows crops to be grown in nutrient-rich water reducing the need for land and addressing issues such as water scarcity and soil erosion. Hydroponics offers improved crop quality, water conservation and climate resilience, he explained, adding that it also has the potential for energy independence by using solar power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Dr Tariq Mukhtar from University of Arid Agriculture also discussed the role of biotechnology in creating climate-resilient rice crops. He spoke on the importance and increasing vulnerability of rice – a staple food for half the world’s population, to climate change, which is causing salinity in soil and increasing pest outbreaks.

Florence Rolle from the FAO Pakistan highlighted the gender disparities that persist in Pakistan’s agricultural sector, noting that women have limited access to inputs, knowledge and financing. Economic empowerment and digitalisation are key solutions to these issues, she said. She also pointed out that while 70 per cent of the female workforce in Pakistan is engaged in agriculture, much of this labour is unpaid.

Dr Arjan De Haan from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in India said that agriculture employs 40 per cent of Pakistan’s labour force, but inefficiencies in land use, output wastage and labour shortages caused by migration remain persistent challenges adding that small farmers, often the least able to adapt to climate impacts, are particularly vulnerable.

Technical Adviser, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Dr Akmal Saddiq said that we need to see if Pakistan is ready for climate change and where do we stand on water and food policies. He said that international institutions have a lot of money for crops resistant to climate impact but Pakistan is in a difficult state to ask for that finance.

However, he said, one good thing that has happened in Pakistan is Laser Land Levelling, even in inner Punjab and Sindh and that helps greatly in water conservation.