Sindh has adequate wheat stock to meet existing demand

Sindh province has adequate wheat stock to meet the existing demand till the arrival of next crop, traders said on Monday. Talking to Business Recorder they said that presently Sindh has some 0.113 million tons wheat stock in its godowns and recently the Sindh food department has also issued delivery orders of over 100,000 tons wheat quota to flour mills across the province. This quota will be sufficient for next 15 days.
"New wheat crop is almost ready in several parts of Sindh and regular supply is likely to arrive in next few days as harvesting has already begun in some districts", said Hashim Sharja Wala, a leading wheat trader. There is neither panic nor wheat crisis in the market as sufficient wheat stock is available in the province. Even wheat grain prices are stable at Rs 39,000 per ton from last one month, he added.
Presently, wheat is being traded at Rs 39,000 to Rs 39,250 per ton in open market, while Sindh food department is supplying commodity to flour mills at a price of Rs 30,000 per ton, he mentioned. With the arrival of new crop, wheat grain prices in the domestic market are likely to face a drastic cut in next few weeks; he said and added that wheat harvesting has started in some parts of the province, where wheat crop is ready. However, arrival will increase after harvesting and thrashing in the belt of Dadu and MirpurKhas, Hashim mentioned.
He said that some trucks of new wheat crop have also arrived in the market and commodity was traded at Rs 35,000 per ton, due to some moisture. "We are expecting wheat prices will decline to Rs 35,000 in next 10 day, when proper supply of new wheat crop will begin", Hashim said.
Sindh government has planned to procure some 1.3 million tons this year to build its strategic reserves and Sindh food department has taken several steps to avoid any speculation in the market.Sindh government may impose an inter-district ban on wheat movement aimed to complete its procurement, he added.
"Presently, prices are higher than wheat support price of Rs 1200 per maund or Rs 30,000 per ton, but I m sure that wheat prices will gradually decline after arrival of new crop in the market and price is expected to be around Rs 30,000 to Rs 31,000 per ton by the end of this month", Hashim said.
Talking about the Thar famine, he said, this is only due to mismanagement and distribution/ transportation issues and there is no shortage of commodity in province. He said that as per food department they have distributed over thousands of wheat bags among masses of Thar in the last three days.
He said that during the last crop season, Sindh has failed to achieve its procurement target and some 1.05 million ton wheat was procured as against target of Rs 1.3 million tons. However this year, wheat procurement target will be achieved as Sindh will have a bumper wheat crop.
Akhtar Hussian, a leading flour miller, said that presently mills are getting some 300 bag per day from food department and there is no wheat crisis in the province. He said that new crop will arrive in the market from March 15 and after that stock position will further improve.

Source: Business Recorder

Growing Wheat of Your Own

If you’re deep into horticulture and self-direction, sooner or later you’ll need to do growing wheat. Among alternative advantages, it permits you to urge far from the business method that grows a superbly sensible grain, then scrapes off the bran, peels out the germ, bleaches the flour, and sells all those things back to you individually.

If you try, you'll discover wheat is simple to grow nearly anyplace within the u.  s., while a wide-row crop in your garden. One gardener in VT attests to having planted thirty pounds of winter wheat on simple fraction of Associate in Nursing acre and harvest 250 pounds of grain in July. On a somewhat smaller scale, although you have got a curtilage that’s twenty feet by fifty feet, you'll plant six pounds of wheat and harvest nearly fifty pounds of grain.

Before you sky-high conceive to place in enough wheat to form all of your bread for consecutive year, begin with alittle trial space the primary year. This check run can enable you to be told however the grain behaves, what its cultivation issues area unit, however long it takes you to handle it, however it’s stricken by varied climate conditions, and more.
Different Types of Wheat

After you’ve determined what proportion wheat to plant, you’ll have to be compelled to decide which kind to plant. It’s simple to urge confused concerning sorts of wheat. Winter wheat is planted within the fall and harvested from period within the South to late July within the North. Spring wheat is planted within the spring and harvested within the fall. each spring and winter wheat area unit additional divided into wheat (lacking a high protein content and used primarily for pastries and crackers), durum wheat (with a high protein content and used for breads), and corn (used for pasta). the variability you choose can rely on wherever you reside. seek advice from your native cooperative consultant to be told that varieties area unit best for your region. (To realize sources for little quantities of wheat seeds, strive our Seed and Plant Finder, or seek advice from your native farm stores.)
Planting Wheat

Plant winter wheat in fall to permit for 6 to eight weeks of growth before the soil freezes. this enables time permanently root development. If the wheat is planted too early, it's going to smother itself the subsequent spring and it may well be susceptible to some late-summer insects that won’t be a problem within the cooler fall weather. If winter wheat is planted too late, it'll not overwinter well.

Spring wheat ought to be planted as early because the ground is worked in spring. Do the initial tilling within the fall, then until and sough the spring. to confirm Associate in Nursing equally distributed crop, find out the quantity of seed you’ll would like, divide it into 2 piles, and broadcast one half in one direction, like from east to west. Then broadcast the rest from north to south. A cyclone crank seeder can do a good job, however broadcasting by hand is ok for alittle plot. you furthermore mght will plant it in rows like alternative crops.
Cover the seed by rototilling or raking it in to a depth two|of two} to 2 one⁄2 inches for winter wheat and one to 1 1⁄2 inches for spring wheat. For best results, roll or otherwise firm the bed to confirm sensible seed-soil contact.
Harvesting Grain

As you admire your wheat stand, you’ll notice in solstice (later for spring wheat) that the colour of the stalks turns from inexperienced to yellow or brown. The heads, serious with grain, tip toward the planet. this suggests it’s time to check the grain. opt for a head, detect a number of grains, and pop them into your mouth. If they're soft and soggy, the grain isn't nevertheless prepared. Keep testing. someday the grains are firm and firm, and it'll be time to reap.

At harvest, however {should you|do you have got to|must you} cut the wheat? If you have alittle enough plot, you’ll simply snip the heads of wheat off the stems. It goes quickly if your wheat field is not any larger than concerning six feet wide by twenty five feet long.

Using a scythe. If you prefer the stylish approach of doing things and area unit progressing to harvest a bigger quantity of grain, you would possibly use a scythe and cradle. The cradle could be a series of long wood fingers mounted on top of the scythe blade. The scythe cuts the wheat, so the cradle carries the cut wheat to the tip of every swing and deposits it during a neat pile, stacked with all the heads sorted along. you'll cut with the scythe alone, however you'd pay plenty of your time finding out the cut wheat and composition it for easier handling.

Harvesting with a edge tool. Another potential tool for cutting little amounts of grain is that the edge tool. It’s a matter of grab and cut, grab and cut. Hold a few of wheat in your hand and swing the edge tool together with your right to chop the plants at nearly ground level. It’s potential to kneel or crouch in numerous positions to avoid obtaining too tired. As you narrow handfuls, lay them in little piles with all the heads pointed within the same direction.

Binding sheaves. consecutive step is to bind the grain into sheaves, every concerning twelve to fourteen inches in circumference — a bunch you'll hold well in your hands. Bind an equivalent day you narrow the wheat. It’s nice to own 2 folks taking turns cutting and binding. you'll bind with wire or baler’s twine or maybe with a number of the wheat stems, twisting them during a approach that holds the bundle firm.

Curing the grain. Stack sheaves upright during a well-ventilated, dry location safe from grain-eating animals. Our ancestors stacked sheaves to form shocks within the field, however with little quantities, it’s simple to bring the sheaves in out of the weather. The grain has been cured once it's laborious, shatters simply, and can't be damaged together with your fingernail.

Threshing. currently it’s time to thresh the grain — to separate the straw and chaff from it. you'll set about this in any variety of the way. One technique is flailing. A flail consists of 1 piece of wood concerning three feet long — the handle — connected with a animal skin thong to a shorter piece concerning a pair of feet long. The shorter piece is flung at the heads of grain repeatedly, shattering a number of heads whenever. If you're mistreatment this technique, you'll expect to provide concerning three pounds of wheat in twenty to twenty five minutes. That’s slow work. Also, there’s a trick to learning to swing the tail while not rapping yourself on the top.
Another way is to beat the individual sheaves against the within of an oversized, clean dustbin. In 2 hours a thresher will turn out a will filled with wheat, however with plenty of chaff and even solid heads in it. this can be quicker than flailing, however produces additional detritus that has got to be separated from the wheat.

Winnowing. the same old technique for sifting is gushing the grain from one instrumentality to a different, property either the wind or the breeze from an electrical fan push the lighter chaff out of the grain. Repeat the method a number of times to urge the grain as chaff-free as potential.
The Best ways that to Store Wheat

The approach you store grain depends on what proportion you’re managing. Storing it properly means that protective it from heat, light, and wetness, still as from rats, mice, and insects. you'll keep alittle quantity of grain in plastic luggage within the electric refrigerator much forever, however it takes additional effort to store larger amounts.

The general recommendation is to store laborious winter or spring wheat with but a ten % wetness content — a wetness level that's really tough to achieve while not further drying (see below). Five-gallon metal or plastic buckets with friction lids area unit ideal for storing all grains. 100 pounds of grain is keep in 3 of those containers. (Garbage cans don't seem to be sensible for storage as a result of creating them bug-proof is tough.)

These cans forestall insects from going in the grain, however you want to take another step to eliminate any eggs or larvae already within the grain. an easy technique is to heat the grain within the kitchen appliance for half-hour at one hundred forty degrees Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, that conjointly can facilitate cut back the wetness content. If you’re undecided concerning the accuracy of your oven’s thermostat, check it with Associate in Nursing kitchen appliance thermometer: temperatures beyond one hundred forty degrees could injury the grain.
Grinding Grain

Some books counsel employing a liquidizer to grind the grain, however that doesn’t work well. You won’t be ready to create nice, fine flour — solely a rough meal with particles of uneven size. At first, shopping for a reasonable, hand-cranked mill sounds right and romantic — back to nature all the way! however what proportion flour area unit you progressing to be grinding? You’d need to grind all afternoon to urge enough flour for 6 loaves of bread, and that’s apt to discourage you from baking in the slightest degree when the primary few tries. mistreatment an electrical grinder could be a higher thanks to grind giant quantities. once you’re choosing a mill, raise the subsequent questions:

• can it handle {the quantity|the quantity|the number} of flour you expect to grind during a affordable amount of time?
  
• will it grind while not heating the grain?
  
• will or not it's adjusted to grind totally different degrees of coarseness?
  
• Is it simple to use and clean?
   
• can replacement components be on the market if you would like them?
     
• Is it factory-made by a honored company which will honor the warranty?

When grinding grain, avoid the temptation to grind giant amounts for future use. Grind what you would like for maybe every week, Associate in Nursingd refrigerate the unused portion in an airtight instrumentality. Whole grains is keep for months while not loss of style or nutrition, however this can be not true of whole grain flour.

Sugarcane : A Complete guide

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Saccharum officinarum

INTROUDCITON:

Sugar cane is C₄ plant it is a parineal crop. The plant takes 10 to 12 month under Pakistani condition. 18 month under Australian condition and 24 month in Cuba and Brazil condition to complete its life cycle. The plant grows from seed set called as plant crop. It is vegetative plant. Rising of succeeding crop after harvesting first year crop is known as ratoon crop. Sugar cane is very sensitive to cold injury. During frost conversion of sucrose to glucose takes place. The sugar mill are interested in sucrose while the farmer are interested in sugar cane weight. Therefore we need high sugar and high weight variety. It is a true seeded plant. They have five sub species

· Saccharum spontanium

· Saccharum sinensis

· Saccharum Bari beri

· Saccharum robustum

· Saccharum officinarum

 

SOIL REQUIREMENT:

Sugar cane can be grown in low fertile, medium fertile and high fertile soil. It is very essential the sugar cane should be grown in high fertile soil because of parineal crop and produce high biomass.

CLIMATE:

The sugar cane is tropical crop it can tolerate high temperature but the optimum temperature at the time of sowing should not be less than 12 ºC to 18 ºC. The optimum temperature for growth is 30 ºC.

PLANTING SEASON:

There are two seasons:

· Winter season (September sowing)

· Spring season (February to March sowing)

In winter season intercropping takes place for example onion in Sindh and wheat, mustard in Punjab. In February to March only onion can be sown.

LAND PREPARATION:

Sugar cane requires deep tillage. Deep tillage includes Mould board plough and those farmers who do not have tractor they use Sarkar plough made up of wood. There are two types of sowing in sugar cane. Sugar cane is sow in furrow area as it is water-loving plant. Row to row distance is 3-5 ft.

CONTENTS:

Thin variety seed is sown for 60-70 munds per acre. It contains 13-14% fiber & 70% water, 10-11% sugar and 2-3% impurities, 1-2% glucose. We have to evaporate the water than we will get the sugar. Plant to plant distance is 9-12 inches over lapping of sets take place. Buds and leaf grown alternately. Leaf covers the bud to protect it in order to safe the bud from the outer environments. If the bud damages than the growth does not occurs/ takes place.

SEED SELECTION:

Ratoon type crop are not selected. It is better to cut the top portion of crop as top portion contain good amount of glucose and lower portion contain sucrose. Immature seed is better than mature plant seeds. 40,000 to 60,000 sets are grown in 1 acre.

VARIETIES:

· BL-4 Barbados + Lyallpur

· POJ Java variety in Indonesia

· COL In India 113-116 Comibitor + Lyallpur

· BF Barbados + Faisalabad 129

· BF-162

· Thatta-10

· SPSG-26

· CP Canal point

 

GERMINATION RATE:

· Top portion of sugar cane give 70% germination

· Middle portion of sugar cane give 40% germination

· Basal portion contain more salts therefore its germination is 30%

· Covering of sugar cane is called “rind” which contain parenchyma cells it contain sugar content.

· Roots are known as fibrous roots.

· When the stem bends and than the root which arises are known as butterious roots.

· Basal root contain glucose only which help in growth.

· Earthing up (prevents from water logging) should be done in the month of June.

· One bud can arises 40 to 50 sugar cane.

SEED TREATEMENT:

Sugar cane seed in the form of sets can be treated with fungicides or in hot water.

SOIL FERTILITY:

Before land preparation we need good manuring crop. Before seeding or flowering we have to plough the green manuring. After this we have to irrigate the land in order to decompose the green manuring. Before sowing the crop a month ago we have to do manuring 10 to 15 tones per acre should be use a month ago before sowing the crop. Farmyard manuring should be decomposing properly.

FERTILIZER REQUIREMENT:

First we have to satisfy the phosphorous requirement.

· At sowing:

2 bags of DAP or 2 bags of TSP or 5 bags of SSP and 1 bag of SOP or MOP.

· Seedling stage:

It comes after 1 month of sowing. 1 bag of urea when the temperature is high above 20 ºC than 2 bag of A.N is used.

· Tillering stage:

This stage comes after 2 month of sowing 1 bag of urea. After 3 months of tillering 1 bag of urea is used.

IRRIGATION:

In September sowing (autumn) we need 40% to 45% time of irrigation of crops. For February to March sowing we need 30% to 34% times irrigation of crop (spring season). For September irrigation we need 4.5-acre foot water. For February to March irrigation we need 3-acre foot of water.

 

DISEASES:

· Red rot

· Whips smut

· Mossaic virus

· Ratoon stunting disease (RSD)

CONTROL:

· Healthy seed

· Resistance variety

· Crop rotation

INSECT PEST:

· Termite

· Pyrilla

· Milli bug

· Red mites

BORERS OF SUGAR CANE:

· Stem borer

· Top borer

· Pink borer

· Gurdas pur

Cotton

Cotton means, “thread”. Cotton is an in determinant plant. There are four cultivated species of cotton.

· Gossipium arborium

· Gossipium herbacium

· Gossipium hirsutum

· Gossipium barbaden

The first two species are called Old-world cotton. It is grown in India, Pakistan. Lint is used in textile and stuffing. The last two species Gossipium hirsutum (American Cotton) and Gossipium barbaden (Egyptian Cotton) are grown in Pakistan and known as “Narma”. Main stem of cotton is called Cotton stick. 40 kg of cotton gives 26-27 Kg of Banola seed and 13-14 Kg of lint. Cotton is important cash crop of Pakistan. 60% of export earning is through cotton 85% domestic oil (vegetative oil) is coming from cotton. It provides raw material to 503 mills in Pakistan and 1135 ginning factories. Yield per hectare is more in Punjab than Sindh.

PLANTING REQUIREMENT OF COTTON:

It is warm season crop. The optimum temperature for germination is between 30-35 °C. At the time of flowering temperature is 34-36 °C.

VEGETATIVE GROWTH PATTERN:

Emergence of leaves from nodes takes place. Healthy root system is present for acquiring soil nutrient. Acropetal (Roots) and Basipetal (Leaves) transport system is present. Main stem is called “monopodial” and branches are called “synpodial”. Root growth is 0.5-2.0 inches each day. Cotyledon unfolds at that time root can grow up to 10 cm. At early vegetative stage root is twice than plant height. At the time of boll setting due to demand of carbohydrate root growth become slow. Root activity become slow gradually when plant mature.

IRRIGATION:

Cotton requires moderately to high irrigation. Cotton can not survive in stagnant water.

SOIL REQUIREMENT AND SOIL PH:

Clay loamy soil is best for cotton. Optimum soil pH for cotton is 5.8-6.5 (slightly acidic). Cotton can also be grown in alkaline soil (pH ranges from 8 and above). The soil should be high in organic matter.

VARIETIES:

The main varieties grown in Sindh are

· Kalandri

· M-100

· Cris-9

· Cris-34

· Cris-38

· Sarmast

· Reshmi

· Rehmani

Some Punjab varieties grown in Sindh are

· NIAB-78

· NIAB-98

· Krishma

SEED VARIETY AND GERMINATION RATE:

Seed variety should be 100% pure and germination rate is 75%. 1 lock of boll contains 6-8 seeds.

DELITING:

1 Kg of sulphuric acid = 10 Kg of cottonseeds.

SOIL TEMPERATURE:

At the time of germination soil temperature should be less than 30 ° C. Above 60° C temperatures destroy seedling emergence.

SOWING DATE:

Sowing starts at 15^th April. Row to row spacing 2.5-3.0 ft. Plant to plant spacing 9 inches approximately.

SEED RATE:

8-10 Kg seeds per Acre.

SOWING METHOD:

Cottonseed is sown by

· Furrow method

· Ridges method

In flat method 25,000-30,000 plants per acre.

DISEASES:

· Boll rots.

· Nematodes.

· Seedling disease.

· Verticillium wilt.

· Ascochyta blight.

Kharif season: fertiliser makers not in favour of urea import

Domestic chemical makers don't seem to be in favour of giant import of carbamide for Kharif season as they believe that spare stocks are obtainable for the approaching crop season. The Ministry of Industries & Production within the last meeting of the chemical Review Committee (FRC) had determined to import zero.125 million tons for Kharif season and therefore the chemical business supported the choice.

This acquisition are created against a $50 million loan facility recently approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) specifically for the acquisition of carbamide fertilizer.

As per estimates of chemical makers of West Pakistan consultive Council (FMPAC) - a representative body of native fertilizer makers - around three.01 million heaps of carbamide stocks, as well as domestic production and carryover stocks from Rabi season, are obtainable within the country for the approaching crop season against a most demand of two.8 to 2.9 million tons.

The country would have some zero.370 million heaps of carbamide stock at begin|the beginning} of Kharif season that may start from Gregorian calendar month one, 2014. calculable production from domestic fertilizer plants throughout the Kharif season can stay a pair of.64 million tons (with gas offer on SNGPL in line with the last year) which means there would be around three.01 million heaps of carbamide obtainable within the country against a requirement of two.8 to 2.9 million tons. As a result, the carryover stock at the tip of Kharif 2014 is probably going to be zero.21 to 0.110 million tons, a political candidate of FMPAC aforesaid.

He aforesaid recent demand of two.9 million tons continues to be more than needs reported  by provinces. "Fertiliser plants will manufacture the specified and spare carbamide for domestic consumption by guaranteeing the required gas offer. The domestic production won't need precious interchange and billions of rupees grant, being spent on import on carbamide," he added.

The business sources aforesaid the govt call to import carbamide and distribute it through National chemical selling restricted (NFML) has additionally been politically motivated  within the past so this observe ought to be discourage by the PML-N government. The centralized is already considering shifting the foreign carbamide distribution from NFML to non-public sector so as to confirm clear and timely distribution of foreign carbamide, they added.

Sources aforesaid some quarters ar proposing an enormous import of zero.7 million heaps of carbamide import for Kharif season. However, they believed that the planned conceive to import zero.7 million heaps of carbamide is contrary to the fact on ground and therefore the call can drain around $266 million from the funds, that is already facing a crisis of depleting forex reserves.

According to sources, this estimate of foreign carbamide has been calculated at a median $380 per ton price and Fright (C&F). On this basis, the landed price involves Rs a pair of,900 per fifty kilo bag as well as port incidentals and native freight, etc. To sell this foreign carbamide at a fix value of Rs one,786 per bag, the govt would ought to offer a further grant of roughly Rs sixteen billion on zero.7 million tons foreign carbamide.

Domestic fertilizer makers urged the govt to require any call on carbamide import whereas keeping in sight this stock handiness position. carbamide is foreign to supply profit to farmers, however in point of fact, farmers don't get any advantage of foreign carbamide and later grant by the funds, they added. Despite the country's current carbamide production capability of six.9 million tons, that is world's seventh largest, West Pakistan spent over $1.5 billion on carbamide import in last three years and additionally paid a grant of over Rs sixty billion on foreign carbamide.

^{Source: Business Recorder}

Wheat output likely to remain below projected target this year

Pakistan's wheat production is anticipated to stay regarding twenty four.5 to twenty five million tons this year, which is 0.25-0.75 million tons wanting the projected target of twenty five.25 million tons, Ministry of National Food Security and analysis officers aforementioned.

A senior official of the Ministry of National Food Security and analysis told Business Recorder, here on Wed that Asian nation is in an exceedingly position to supply bumper wheat crop this year however it depends on atmospheric condition in March: if the temperature remains average the country's wheat output is anticipated to cross twenty five million tons, however if temperature is on top of the common for the year wheat output is probably going to stay twenty four.5 million tons.

"This year wheat growers have brought nearly twenty one million acres underneath wheat cultivation, that is sort of one thousand thousand acres but the past year. In arid areas, a decline within the space underneath wheat cultivation, low tide provides and fertiliser shortages square measure probably to cut back the wheat production, however on national level we tend to predict a healthy wheat crop", the officers aforementioned.

"In Rabi season we've got 2 major crops wheat and gram, wheat production is probably going to cross twenty five million tons if atmospheric condition stay favourable, whereas gram production is anticipated to be 550,000 tons this year against set target of 600,000 tons" he added . Gram is especially cultivated in Bhakkar, Layyah, Khushab and Mianwali districts, whereas wheat is being cultivated across the country tho' geographical region is that the major wheat manufacturing province, followed by Sind and KPK.

"Pakistan wants around 900,000 loads of gram to feed its population on low-cost macromolecule, however the country is at the present manufacturing solely 550,000 loads of gram. within the past, Asian nation was manufacturing nearly 800,000 loads of gram pulse. Even in worst-weather years, the gram production was ne'er less than 5 maunds per acre. sadly throughout the past few years it absolutely was solely two.5 maunds per acre. however and why did the yield call in over seventy % at intervals a matter of few years nobody knows", Abraham Mughal Chairman Agri-Forum Asian nation aforementioned.

Mughal aforementioned the case could improve slightly if water and fertiliser handiness improves adding that at the present a bag of carbamide is obtainable at Rs one,900 to Rs two,000, that 3 years back was obtainable at Rs 800 per bag. the assembly value of various crops has increased  manifold throughout past few years and farmers square measure unable to buy necessary inputs to extend yield. Farmers have planted wheat over a locality of very little over eight.5 million hectares this year, down from nine.13 million hectares last year once the country created a bumper crop of regarding twenty three.8 million loads of wheat, Mughal aforementioned.

Source: Business Recorder 

Agriculture sector opposes granting NDMA/MFN status to India

The Agriculture Task Force (ATF) of Pakistan-India Joint Business Forum (PIJBF) is vehemently opposition granting Non-Discriminatory Market Access/Most Favoured Nation (NDMA/MFN) to Asian country at this stage.

President, Farmers Associates West Pakistan (FAP) and Co-Chair of Agriculture Task force, PIJBF, Tariq Bucha in an exceedingly letter sent to the federal commerce minister has highlighted that agriculture sector, that is far and away the largest leader within the country, flatly opposes granting NDMA/MFN to Asian country until correct preparations are completed on our facet to guard our sectors from huge Indian subsidies, and find important market access from Asian country for Pakistani merchandise, to make sure the amount enjoying field as per the need ordered down within the cupboard call of bissextile day, 2012.

Unnecessary haste with that the govt of West Pakistan is continuing to open Wagah border and to over 137 things before Asian country lowers its agriculture tariffs and removes every kind of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and healthful and Phyto healthful (SPS) barriers that are undermining our negotiating leverage and position. "For Agriculture turn out and product, Wagah route can't be opened any longer, till a separate bilateral agri-trade agreement is negotiated involving stakeholders together with FAP, and is finalised and signed, supported associate impartial and freelance study for that purpose," he said.

Moreover, he said, SAFTA doesn't apply absolutely to the complexities concerned underneath the World Trade Organization regime with relevance agriculture. it's a 15-page agreement with incomplete annexes, and needs important and severe redefining, restructuring and amendments with careful neutral input and approval, just in case it contemplates agri trade between the countries owing to huge current and future subsidies given to agriculture in Asian country that ar an indicator of unfair trade.

Nowhere will the SAFTA agreement need West Pakistan to terminate its sensitive list in 5 years. "Pakistan's agriculture sector vehemently opposes any longer phasing out of agricultural things from the sensitive list. we've got scan the SAFTA Agreement rigorously, and apprehend that there's no such categorical demand. Any reductions created on the sensitive list ar discretionary, and despite the fact that a review of the list is needed each four years, a 'review' doesn't need a discount in it," he declared.

Within the ASEAN regime, that may be a way more sturdy FTA than SAFTA, as an example, there ar things that stay for good on a "highly sensitive list", he said, adding that any representatives of the govt of West Pakistan United Nations agency agrees to needless reductions of the sensitive list should apprehend that they'd be doing therefore with none legal demand, and would be violating the principle of keeping tier enjoying field that was set down within the aforesaid cupboard call, within the wake of the big subsidies given by the Indian government.

He steered that to effectively counter the big subsidies on agriculture before gap Wagha and granting NDMA/MFN to Asian country, the govt of West Pakistan should initial place in situ tariff rate quotas per crop that equal the grant given to every crop on the Indian facet, to make sure tier enjoying field. "The on top of steps should be verified by FAP, representing the agri-sector. Once that's done, we tend to may move forward on negotiating a separate agri-trade agreement for bilateral trade with Asian country," he added.

It has been discovered within the letter that granting NDMA means Wagah ought to still be closed to all or any Indian merchandise, as a result of no different country's merchandise comes through Wahga. "Therefore, if all merchandise are restricted from Wagah, that might accommodates Non-Discriminatory Market Access. By granting Wagah access to over 137 Asian countryn merchandise would quantity to granting India even additional favourable terms than needed by a grant of NDMA/MFN. Granting Wagah access to over the present agriculture things can considerably weaken Pakistan's economy, and already beleaguered agriculture sector," he said.

Tariq declared that Congress Party is probably going to lose within the coming elections in {india|India|Republic of Asian country|Bharat|Asian country|Asian nation} thus the agriculture sector powerfully opposes granting NDMA/MFN to India notably once the new Indian government is merely few months away and will lift any concessions that ar given to West Pakistan by the outgoing Congress government. 'At this juncture, National Tariff Commission (NTC) doesn't nevertheless have the capability or provisions to effectively counter unfair trade practices like the anticipated selling and significant subsidisation of agricultural merchandise by the Indian facet,' he said.

Before giving any longer trade concessions to the Indian facet, he same the Ministry of Commerce should demonstrate that the NTC has the power, capability and therefore the powers to effectively defend Pakistan's agriculture from the anticipated onslaught of unfair Indian trade practices of selling and significant subsidization. "Since 2011, the Ministry of Commerce has acknowledged that the NTC lacks such capability, and nevertheless the NTC has not visibly improved. The Ministry of Commerce thus cannot in sensible conscience open Wagah or to over 137 things before it may build a strong NTC'.

Concluding Tariq same, though the agriculture sector isn't loth to trade with Asian country in an exceedingly structured, phased and effectively negotiated agreement, we tend to feel that the govt of West Pakistan has so far did not improve the capability of its establishments or place in provisions to afford required protection to its domestic sectors, to assist survive the anticipated onslaught of Indian agricultural turn out and product. 'Thus, till such time that the govt of West Pakistan demonstrates that it's serious concerning safeguarding Pakistan's domestic agriculture from unfair competition, we'll oppose any move for granting NDMA/MFN and additional gap of Wagah'.

Source Business Recorder 

Olive Cultivation-Bringing Peace to FATA

Olive Plantation Initiatives

45% land of FATA is suitable for olive cultivation

(GIS study conducted by IOA and PODB)

Most suitable areas includes

–Bajaur 79,899 ha (53.4 %)

–Mohmand 75,167 ha (34.2 %)

–Kurram 93,676 ha (19.1 %)

–SWA 37,134 ha (6.4 %)

–NWA 51,319 ha (15.3 %)

Why Olive Plantation

• Plant of Marginal land

• Minimum land preparation cost

• Minimum inputs cost

• High rate of return

• Simple value addition

• Wide range of products

• Fruit bearing life >900 years

• Suitable for many areas

• Can reduce import bill

• Great export potential

Issues/challenges

• Sustenance of farmers

• Security concerns in FATA

• Farmers education & training

• Limited saplings available

• Infrastructure (road, market)

• Water scarcity

Implementation Strategy

• Implementation to start from FR/closer to settled areas

• Ownership of Politicians, PAs, Maliks and Notables

• Selection of areas with irrigation resources

• Sustenance of poor growers

• Free distribution of saplings

• Monitoring through satellite imagery/third party audit

• Training of farmers

• Small oil extraction units to be developed by ABEI, PARC

Benefits

• Environmental improvement

• Marginal land utilization

• Development of village entrepreneurship

• Employment generation

• Livelihood improvement

• Export potential

Source: Presentation highlight taken from Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Website for original Presentation Click Here

Wheat Yield Competition

Under the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, provincial Agriculture department has finalised necessary arrangements for holding "Wheat Yield Competition" across the Punjab. Official sources told Business Recorder on Monday that prizes worth to Rs 125.775 million would be given to the winners of the competition of provincial, divisional and tehsils levels in the Punjab. Wheat Yield Competition would be held among the wheat growers across the Punjab and Agriculture department has already finalise the criteria, procedure, constitutions of Markaz, tehsil, district, divisional and provincial levels committees for the competition. At provincial level, first prize 85 HP tractor, second and third prizes 75 Hp tractors, at divisional level, first prize 75 HP tractor, second prize 65 HP and third prize 55 HP tractors will be given to the winners of the competition.

^{Source: Business Recorder}

Growers urged to complete sunflower sowing

Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has warned the growers to immediately complete sunflower sowing as further delay will result in lower per acre yield. A spokesman of the Department said here on Monday that best time for spring plantation of sunflower in Southern Punjab including Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan Division is till February 10. While in Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Sargodha Division best time for sowing is till February 15 and for Lahore, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi Division the suitable time is till end of February. He further stated that the growers should adopt latest technology to get maximum per acre production.

^{Source: Business Recorder}

Zinc: Importance and Current situation

Zaghum Sattar & Abdul Saboor Butt

Institute of soil & Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

Zinc (Zn) is among those minerals that were first considered as essential for plants, animals and human. Zn is a basic essential trace mineral element for normal healthy growth in plants, animals and humans that uptake as a divalent cation (Zn²⁺) by plants. Zn is playing principal metabolically role in plants and required in the carbonic enzyme present in all photosynthetic tissues, and also required for chlorophyll biosynthesis. Zinc is one of the essential micronutrient for the normal healthy growth and reproduction of crop plants. Zn plays an important role in plant metabolism by influencing the activities of enzymes, hydrogenase and carbonic anhydrase, stabilization of ribosomal fractions and also synthesis of cytochrome.  Zn also activate plant enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, integrity maintenance of cellular membranes, synthesis of nucleic acids and specific proteins, regulate auxin synthesis and pollen formation. The regulation of the gene expression required for the tolerance of environmental stresses in plants also depend on the Zn.Zinc deficiency involves in the abnormalities development in plants as deficiency symptoms such as stunted growth, chlorosis and smaller leaves, spikelet sterility. Zn deficiency can also adversely affect the quality of harvested products; plants susceptibility to injury by high sunlight or temperature intensity and to infection by fungal diseases can also increase. A zinc deficiency affects the capacity for water uptake and transport in plants. Zn involves in the synthesis of tryptophan which is a precursor of IAA, and in the production of growth hormoneauxin. Zinc deficiency is common in humans, animals and plants. More than 30% world’s population suffers from Zn deficiency. Zinc deficiency is found to be more common in developing countries due to low Zn in their diet. Zinc plays a part.in the basic roles of. Cellular functions in all living organisms and also involved in the human immune system. The optimum dietary intake for human adults is 12-15 mg Zn per day. Zinc acts as a catalytic or structural component in various body enzymes.Unsatisfactory intake and improper absorption of Zinc in the body may cause deficiency of Zn.  Zn malnutrition in humans can result in many fatal and other diseases like hair and memory loss, skin problems and weakness in eye side and body muscles. Insufficient intake of Zn during pregnancy in women also causes stunted brain development of the fetus. Infertility has also been observed in Zn deficient men. Zinc deficiency may cause congenital diseases like Acrodermatitis enteropathica. According to FAO/WHO recommendations an average male need 11 mg of Zn daily while an average female needs 9 mg of Zn. During pregnancy and lactation, the female needs 13 mg to 14 mg of Zn daily. Infants from 7 months to 3 years need 3 mg, 4 to 8 years need 5 mg and children from 9 to 13 years need 8 mg of Zn daily. In Pakistan, Zn deficiency is common in children and in women.Trace elements such as Zn are contained in all soils in measurable amounts. However, these concentrations can vary considerably. The overall mean total Zn concentration in soil is around 55 mg Zn kg^-1. A typical range of Zn in soils is from 10 to 300 mg Zn kg^-1. These values do not include contaminated soils, which may have much higher zinc concentrations.However, plant available Zn is very low as compared to its total amount. For a better Zn nutrition of human beings, cereal grain should contain around 40-60 mg Zn kg^-1 where current situation is 10-30 mg Zn kg^-1. Soils with low zinc availability for plant uptake represent nearly half of the cereal-growing areas of the world. The countries most affected by zinc deficient soils are Pakistan, India, Iran, China and Turkey with 50-70% of arable land classified as zinc deficient.

Basic concepts in crop production

AGRONOMY

Scientific crop production is called Agronomy.

CROP

Community of plants to produce yield, which are economically important, called Crop.

OBJECTIVES OF CROP

To provide the food to the human beings and also useful to animals.

GENOTYPE

Genotype are the new varieties and cultivars.

• Poor yield    =      poor genotype +         good environment
• Poor yield    =      poor genotype +         poor environment
• Poor yield    =      good genotype +         poor environment
• Good yield   =      good genotype +         good environment

FACTORS EFFECTING GENOTYPE

These are the factors effecting genotype

• Vulnerability of seed.
• Viability of seed.
• Poor storability.

SOIL

It is a layer of lithosphere. Soil is composed of aluminium and silica is 1:1 or 1:2 ratio.

Soil is the basic medium for plant growth.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Physical properties of soil are

• Bulk density
• Porosity
• Soil texture and structure.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

Chemical properties of soil are

• Cation (-), Anion (+) exchange capacity
• Soil ph.
• Soil salts or electrical conductivity
• Soil types.

CROPING SEASONS

We have two cropping seasons

• Rabi
• Kharif.

RABI CROPS

Those crops which growing season starts in winter

For example; Wheat, Barley etc.

KHARIF CROPS

Those crops which growing season starts in summer

For example; Cotton, Rice etc.

TYPES OF PLANTS ON THE BASIS OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC SYSTEMS

There are two types of plants on the basis of photosynthetic systems

• C₃ Plants (Mesophyllous photosynthetic system)
• C₄ Plants (PEP carboxyl’s photosynthetic system)

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF C₃ AND C₄ PLANTS

• C₄ are tropical plants.
• C₄ plants productivity is greater than C₃ plants.
• C₄ plants are Sugar cane, Sorghum, Milit, Maize, and Weeds.
• C₄ plants does not utilize its own chloroplast whether C₃ plants does use it.

SOIL COMPOSITION

Soil is the basic medium for plant growth.

Soil contain

• 25% moisture
• 25% Airspace
• 5% Organic matter
• 45% Minerals.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF COMMON MICROORGANISMS PER GRAM OF SOIL.

• Bacteria                           3,000,000 to 500,000,000
• Actinomycetes                  1,000,000 to 20,000,000
• Fungi                               5,000 to 1000,000
• Protozoa                          1,000 to 500,000
• Algae                               1,000 to 500,000

CN RATIO (CARBON TO NITROGEN RATIO)

CN ratio indicates the decomposition of organic matter. Number of carbon units utilizes to produce nitrogen unit.

Crop Name	C	:	N
· Green Legumes	12	:	1
· Compost (decompose form of O.matter)	15	:	1
· Garbage	25	:	1
· Sugar Cane thrash	50	:	1
· Weeds	80	:	1
· Rice straw	80	:	1
· Saw dust	500	:	1

Beans

Samina Khalid*, Tahira Abbas*, Rashad MukhtarBalal* Muhammad Irfanullah** and Muhammad Adnan Shahid*

*Assistant Professor Department of Horticulture, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha

**Assistant Professor Department of Entomology, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha

Beans are warm season annual legumes that fix nitrogen when established their root system.These are easy to grow and are good source of proteins, fiber, minerals and nutrients. These are grown for their immature pods, immature seeds or mature seeds. Beans are of two kinds low growing or bush beans and tall growing or pole and runners bean. The term Beans and pulses are interchangeably used for legume crops but the term beans referred to legume crops consumed in fresh state as green beans.

Types of beans:Green snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) also known as string beans, string less beans(haricot varieties),the common bean,field bean, flageolet bean, french bean, garden bean, pop bean, kidney bean and wax bean is used for its green pods.Southern cowpeas (Vignaunguiculata) also known as common cowpeas, crowder peas, black-eyed peas, and field peas, are highly nutritious plant grown for fresh, processed and dried uses.

Fava bean (Viciafaba) has large and small seeded varieties. Large seeded varieties (broadbean or windsor beans) are cultivated as vegetables while small seeded varieties like bell, horse, tick, or field beans are commonly cultivated as animal feed, cover crop and green manures. Yardlong bean, (Vignaunguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) also called as Chinese long bean, haricot asparagus and asparagus bean is trailing plant often reaching 9-10 feet in height with 10-20 inches long pods. Lima beans, (Phaseoluslunatus) also known as butter bean and chad beans, is a nutritious vegetable high in protein, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, thiamin and niacin. Winged beans, (Psophocarpustetragonolobus), also known as the Goa bean and Asparagus pea, four-angled bean and winged pea.

Horticultural Maturity Indices: All pod beans should be harvested when the pod is bright green and fleshy and the seeds are small and green. After that period, excessive seed development reduces quality and the pod becomes pithy and tough, and loses its bright color. Beans should pick often to keep plants bearing longer. Snap beans (yellow, green and purple types) pods are harvested about 8 to 10 days after flowering when pods are almost full-sized but before seeds begin to bulge. Bush snap beans should mature in 48 to 60 days. Runner or pole beans require 58 to 70 days to mature. Lima bush beans require 65 to 80 days and pole beans required 80 to 88 days to mature.Lima bean and pigeon pea are mature to harvest when their pods are well-filled and that are beginning to lose their greenness. Cowpea, yard-long bean, snap bean and winged bean are mature to harvest when their pods are well-filled pods and that snap readily. Black-eyed pea or cowpea are picked when seeds near full sized but still bright green.

Harvest and Postharvest handling:

Beans should be harvested in the morning, do not harvest when the beans are wet.Keep produce in cooler area after harvest asbeans are harvested in unripe stage, having high metabolic activityBeans are sensitive to ethylene and chilling injury. Ethylene reduces green colour in snap beans. Sensitivity to chilling temperature varies with beans cultivars. In Lima beans rusty brown specks, spots, or areas appear on pods when stored at 1-4.5 C° however,in snap beans pitting and russeting appeared when stored at 7°C. Snap beans are susceptible to freezing injury. Beans can be damaged by direct contact with ice. Snaps beans can be hydro-cooled however, postharvest decay can occur if the product remains wet after cooling. Beans can be treated with hot water at 52°C for 0.5 minutes to control Pythiumbutleri, Sclerotiniasclerotiorum. Recommended storage conditions and potential life of different beans types are given in the table:

Recommended storage conditions for various beans types

Commodity	Temperature	Relative Humidity (%)	Approximate storage life
°C	°F
Beans, green or snap	4-7	40-45	95	7-10 days
Beans, Lima, in pods	5-6°C	41-43	95	5 days
Chinese long bean	4-7°C	40-45	90-95	7-10 days
Haricot vert (fine beans)	4-7	40-45	95	10 days
Winged bean	10	50	90	4 weeks

Source: McGregor, 1989.

Insects and diseases:Important diseases of beans are damping off, tip blight, southern blight, bean rust, anthracnose and white mold. Corn ear worm, stink bug, European corn borer, caterpillar, beetles, whiteflies, thripsand mitesare the important insects attacking bean plant.

Refferences:
Bachmann, J., Earls, R., 2000. Postharvest handling of fruits and vegetables.Horticulture technical note.
Barkai-Golan, R. and Phillips, D.J. 1991. Postharvest treatments of fresh fruits and vegetables for decay control. Plant Disease (Nov): 1085-1089.
Harderburg, R.E., A. E. Watada, and C-Y.Wang 1986. The Commercial Storage of Fruits Vegetables. and Florist and Nursery Stocks. USDA, Agricultural Handbook No. 66.
Koske, J.T., Morgan, A.L., Ferrin, D.M., Bean, Vegetable gardening tips, Growing information for home gardeners series. Loisiana State University Agriculture Center.
Lawrence, J.H., Moore, L.M. Plant Guide Yard Long bean Vignaunguiculata (L.) Waln ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.United States Department of Agriculture.
Myers, J.R., Colt, W.M., Swanson, M.A., Beans and peas, Grow your own. University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System, the Oregon State University Extension Service, Washington State University Cooperative extension.
McGregor, B.M. 1989. Tropical Products Transport Handbook.USDA Office of Transportation, Agricultural Handbook 668.
Rodino, A.P., Lema, M., Perez-Barbeito, M., Santalla, M., De Ron, A.M., 2007.Assessment of runner bean (Phaseoluscoccineus L.) germplasm for tolerance to low temperature during early seedling growth.Euphytica 155, 63-70.
Sattel, R., Dick, R., McGrath, D., 1998. Fava bean (Viciafaba), Oregon State University Extension Service.http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/15226/em8697.pdf
Stephenson, R.A., 1980. The winged bean flyer.International documentation center for the winged bean.
Strang, J., 2011. Snap beans, UK cooperative extension service.University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture.
Wright, S., 2012.Southernpea (Cowpea), UK cooperative extension service. University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture.
Copyright © agrinfobank.com, For republished by any mean kindly contact with us at info@agrinfobank.com

Investment in agriculture seed market can boost economy

Pakistan's agriculture seed market is worth almost $ 1500 million and it has huge potential and opportunities for investors. DG Federal Seed Certification & Registration, Syed Muhammad Nasir Ali expressed these views while talking to APP here on Sunday. He said that investment in agriculture seed and supply of certified seed was important not only to boost agriculture sector but also overall economy of the country.
He said the value of seed produced in Pakistan was $ 500 million while the value of imported seed was $ 300 million which showed a market gap for investment of $ 700 million. He said certified seed availability of major crops in Pakistan was just 20 per cent while authorities had set a target for certified seed availability of 30 percent for the next year.
He said the share of the public sector in seed availability was 22 per cent while private sector's share was 78 per cent.
He said that there were four public sector seed organisations while five multinational seed companies and 789 national seed companies were operating in the private sector.

Source: Business recorder

Irrigation: Physical importance

Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to the plant/crops, according to the free dictionary(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/) irrigation is define as To supply (dry land) with water by means of ditches, pipes, or streams; water artificially. Following are the some important function or role of irrigation in plant physical and physiological process;

• The plant system itself contains about 90% of water.
• Amount of water varies in different parts of plant as follows.
* Apical portion of root and shoot > 90%.
* Stem, leaves and fruits 70–90%
* Woods 50–60%
* Matured parts 15–20%
* Freshly harvested grains 15–20%
• It acts as base material for all metabolic activities. All metabolic or biochemical reactions in plant system need water.
• It plays an important role in respiration and transpiration.
• It plays an important role in photosynthesis.
• It activates germination and plays an important role in plant metabolism for vegetative and reproductive growth.
• It serves as a solvent in soil for plant nutrients.
• It also acts as a carrier of plant nutrients from soil to plant system.
• It maintains plants temperature through transpiration.
• It helps to keep the plant erect by maintaining plant’s turgidity.
• It helps to transport metabolites from source to sink.

Scientists urged to address agriculture, rural development

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) scientists should enhance their role in addressing the issues facing the society with their outreach and research work especially for agriculture and rural development. This was stated by UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while addressing the meeting of tenure track system (TTS) teaching staff. Registrar Muhammad Hussain was also present on the stage. The Vice Chancellor said the knowledge is generating with the large pace. It is must to transform the knowledge into goods and services in order to make progress and prosperity in the country. He said the teaching staff should develop opinion leader qualities to persuade farming community, other stakeholders and society regarding knowledge based techniques and solutions.

News Source   I  News Collected : agrinfobank.com Team

Government urged to form agriculture development board

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) former senior vice president Abdul Basit on Saturday stressed the need to take effective measures to ensure food security in the country. While talking to Business Recorder, Abdul Basit touched upon many areas where the government attention is direly needed but his focus was agriculture sector about which he spoke flawlessly and fearlessly. His suggestion about formation of Agriculture Development Board (ADB) was quite impressive and workable.
He said that it was a happy sign that the PM had constituted Business and Agriculture Advisory Committees to overcome the challenges being faced by the two sectors and optimism is being expressed that things would take a positive turn sooner than later. "But I would request the government that instead of reinventing the wheel through such an exercise, the government should constitute ADB on the pattern of Engineering Development Board (EDB) that is an apex body under Ministry of Industries and Production entrusted to strengthen engineering base in Pakistan," he said.
He mentioned that the EDB has seven government members and 14 private members including two top academicians having related experience and in my view, the ADB should primarily consist of 25 members including top agriculturists from all the provinces, renowned businessmen, vice chancellors of agriculture universities and secretaries of all related government departments.
The proposed ADB should be tasked to review all existing agriculture policies in the country, hold discussions with recognised related private sector bodies before giving final recommendations for implementation. Why all this should be done? He questioned. It is needed to save our agriculture sector that is facing multiple internal and external challenges, he added.
Very recently all of us saw a sudden and unprecedented hike in the prices of almost all vegetables but nobody noticed that what went wrong and what is the remedy? In my opinion, the decision to allow imports of vegetables from India was a deep rooted and well calculated conspiracy against the local farmers, he said. All this is result of our wrong planning because while allowing import of vegetables from India we ignored our farming sector.
He said that recently I was in India and surprised to know that their agriculture sector was exempt from load shedding while industrial sector and domestic users are subjected to load shedding. Indians understand well that the industry can be run on generators while a farmer cannot afford generator. So they are ensuring their food security and we have failed to do so, he maintained. The LCCI former senior vice president also spoke on education and severely criticised mushroom growth of private education institutions in the country. He said that the government educational institutions should be strengthened to deliver quality education.

News Source   I  News Collected : agrinfobank.com Team

Water scarcity: moot highlights challenges to agriculture sector

A two-day water conference began here highlighting problems, which the country's prime agriculture sector is likely to face due to drying up of irrigation resources in future, if steps were not taken to improve supplies across the country. At the inaugural session of the conference titled as "Water Co-operation in Action - From the Global to the Grassroots," held at a local hotel, speakers proposed immediate steps to overcome the growing water scarcity.
The conference, which will conclude today (Thursday), attracted hundreds of participants at the inaugural session on the topic of "setting the scene and identifying challenges." However, Federal Planning, Development and Reforms Minister Ahsan Iqbal could not attend the event for being "busy", according to the organisers.
Experts proposed ways to meet the challenges and highlighted the problems of water shortage, which the country continues to face and feared the dwindling resources with changing climate will further shorten if immediate measures were not taken. Chairperson Hisaar Foundation, Zohair Ashir, Senior Advisor to the Global Water Partnership at UNDP, Khalid Mohtadullah, Country Co-ordinator WSP, World Bank, Farhan Sami and Chair Academic Committee, Hisaar Foundation, Simi Kamal spoke at the opening session.
They apprised the participants that the country receives 70-75 percent water flow for just three months a year to irrigate the crops. Pakistan has a water storage capacity for only 30 days whereas India for 120 days. They said the country is facing water scarcity problems, which need a proper management by the government and social groups. They feared the country's agriculture sector will lose its growth if water supplies did not improve in years to come.
They said Pakistan is a signatory to Indus Water Treaty with India, and should increase its efforts to resolve all problems. They said Pakistan is facing a severe shortage of water in Indus basin close to Indian territory. They pointed out that the India has developed hydropower projects on its western rivers close to Pakistan, which have also negative impact on the country's water resources, flowing from the neighbouring nation.
They observed the climate change has accelerated melting of glaciers which the government should also monitor to meet challenges from the meltdown effects on the country's environment and rivers. They were of the view that the lack of trust between Pakistan and India hampers resolution of water issues, saying both the government should take decisions to avert major water related problems.
They said both the government should build a database on water availability and its flow from one country to the other with a view to deny claims of water theft. They said if there is water flow data, then a nation will not be able to blame the other for stealing its water share.
The experts also blamed the fast urbanisation across the world, consuming bigger share of the nations. Despite Pakistan's falling GDP and per capita income, the country has reduced its poverty level, they said. They suggested the government to undertake reforms in agriculture and other key sectors to improve resources for the country's growing population. They also urged the society to change its behaviour towards handling the crisis. Media's role, they said, is important to create awareness among the public as how to cope with the problems. They said water-related diseases take thousands of lives every year in the country while millions are exposed to them. Dengue and diarrhea are growing fast among the public, the experts said.

News Source: Business Recorder      News Collected: agrinfobank.com Team

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