Webinar for agri reforms to tackle climate issues

Experts say farmers need incentives for water conservation

ISLAMABAD:

Experts at a webinar highlighted the imperative to enhance information flow to stakeholders, including the media, and manage data governance to revolutionise agri-food systems.

The webinar titled "Potential of Agrifood Systems and Mitigating Climate Impacts" was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in the federal capital. The event was participated virtually by many participants including members of academia, media and the development sector.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s representative in Pakistan, Florence Rolle, speaking on the occasion, said climate change is real and couldn’t be denied anymore. She added that Pakistan would have to adapt to climate change and extend effective incentives to its farmers in water conservation and crop productivity through alternative crops ensuring crop diversification.

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She said due to rising temperature variability the country could focus on early crop sowing that could help generate more produce with the available water and resources provided the growing shift in pattern.

Rolle said there was a need to revisit the agriculture sector of Pakistan by farming systems and observe its weather patterns which will be the best combination of crop farmers and systems. "One billion people in the world couldn’t afford a healthy diet in the past years. The current agriculture food policy isn’t providing the desired relief and it's a window opportunity to revisit the policy," she maintained.

Rolle said there is an opportunity for Pakistan to improve the system and repurpose it to create more opportunities. "There is also a need to look into public access to diversified food which is safe along with ensuring food security, and food control systems that could bring elements for dialogue and look into the potential of diet, export of the commodities," she added.

She noted that data is important and Pakistan has developed varieties of species related to crop products.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2024.