'Balochistan agriculture sector experienced 23% growth'

Faisalabad University vice chancellor says the province can become food basket for Pakistan, central Asian countries.

FAISALABAD: As a result of water management trainings, Balochistan’s agriculture sector experienced 23% growth during last one year, said the vice chancellor of Faisalabad University of Agriculture on Monday.

"Balochistan would become a new food basket not only for Pakistan but for the central Asian countries as improvement in the agriculture sector including agro ecological zones and conducive environment enable farmers to invest in fruit and vegetable crops, " Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said.

The university head was speaking to 30 participants from Balochistan who were here for a 10-day training workshop on farm water management.

The training was conducted by the Balochistan Agricultural project, funded by the USAID and implemented by the FAO in eight districts of Balochistan.

Khan highlighted that sugarcane and rice cultivation – which takes up the majority of the cultivatable land - requires huge amount of water and exporting these crops means virtual water export.  He further called for measures to regulate commercial use of water.

The vice chancellor stressed the need of overhauling the current farming system keeping in mind the recent climate change.

He warned that in coming years, the country will suffer a shortfall of 110 million acre feet of water, which will hamper the agricultural growth.