Need stressed to promote arid agriculture in Sindh

National and international experts have stated that canal-based agriculture has been practiced in Pakistan for over a century. However, half of Sindh agriculture land has potential for arid agriculture, making it essential to promote arid agriculture.

Experts have proposed to focus on cultivation, research, processing and marketing of medicinal plants, Thar Development Authority, Thar University, cross-border business at Khokrapar, tourism and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for research in Thar.

The second international conference on medicinal plants and pastures and resources was organised under the Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam Umerkot campus in collaboration with Higher Education Commission Islamabad, Hamdard University Karachi and the Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO) United Nations.

Addressing the conference, Sindh Agriculture University Vice Chancellor Dr. Altaf Ali Sial said, Thar is the seventeenth largest desert in the world, which covers 33 per cent of Sindh area. Thar region is particularly suitable for cultivation of medicinal plants. He said that Thar has underground water reserves, which need further research. He also stressed on demarcating Thar land through GIS technology.