THE three-day national workshop on ‘Technologies for sustainable agriculture’ held recently under the auspices of the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, highlighted the technological gap between agricultural technologists and the farming community.

Agricultural technologists and experts read out papers and delivered lectures on various aspects of agriculture, including innovations for the productivity improvement.

Organizers of the workshop underlined the need for interaction between the experts and the farming community to boost the agriculture sector. They said they wanted to bring together all the players that could contribute towards making the agricultural system sustainable. The main objective was to sift information, seek new knowledge and recommend strategies for both short and long-term sustainability of agro ecosystems.

Inaugurating the workshop, Planning Commission deputy chairman Dr. Shahid Amjad lauded the contribution made to country’s agriculture by PAEC in general and Niab in particular. He stressed the need for further strengthening the agriculture base of the country and to introduce technologies useful for sustained agricultural productivity. He suggested that Niab should expand its programmes to include some socio-economic aspects of agriculture and develop into a university of agriculture science and technology.

He said scientists at Niab and the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering had sufficient experience in teaching and guiding graduate and post-graduate students to serve as faculty of a full-fledged university. The role of agriculture had changed, and it was now to produce foodstuffs for an industrial society to turn into something else. In Pakistan, farmers were trapped by globalization because they must export to survive and compete with the world markets. Now, agriculture would have to be treated like another industrial sector, but the vision on its future direction was missing, he said.

PAEC member (Biosciences) Dr. Kausar A. Malik highlighted the achievements of agricultural centres of his organization, especially in introducing different crop varieties and developing saline agriculture for adoption at national and international levels. He mentioned the IAEA-sponsored programme on utilization of salt-affected lands that encouraged participation by farmers.

He said over the years, PAEC centres had been able to evolve and release 40 varieties through radiation mutation, including cotton varieties Niab-78 and Niab-98, which were virus resistant, and had higher yields and improved fibre qualities. The only constraint was marketing and giving proper returns to farmers who were fast losing interest because of increase in production costs. In addition to cotton, nearly all varieties of mungbean, chickpea and lentils had originated from PAEC centres.

He said the contribution to Niab/NIBGE efforts in biotechnology was worth mentioning. NIBGE had been able to contribute towards the management of cotton curl virus by isolating the causative virus, studying its genetic make-up and then developing very sensitive diagnostic tests, which had helped the plant breeders to develop CLCV-resistant plant varieties. Moreover, the technology of DNA fingerprinting, molecular marker assisted breeding and development of transgenic crop had been developed. In addition, bio-fertilizers for meeting nitrogen and phosphorous requirements of various crops had been developed and were being marketed under the trade name of Bio-Power, he said.

NIBGE had also been active in the area of health, environment industry where they are working in collaboration with the end users. For example, in the health sector, very specific diagnostics for hepatitis-C, typhoid, TB, thalassemia and genetic disorders had been developed. In the area of environment, a process had been developed to detoxify the industrial effluents especially from the textile industry.

Niab director Dr. Mohsin Iqbal highlighted the need of such an activity and contribution of Niab to endeavour towards achieving self-sufficiency in food and fibre requirements. He claimed that during the past four to five decades, a phenomenal increase in agricultural productivity had been achieved. This was brought about through technologies developed at the PAEC and other agricultural institutes in the country.

So far, Niab scientists had developed 19 varieties of different crops. For utilization of saline wastelands and brackish water, a biosaline approach was developed in mid-70s that was currently being utilized by eight countries in South East Asia. In the area of animal biology, a vaccine developed for HS disease provided immunity to the cattle for one year. Urea Molasses feed blocks had improved health, milk production and reproduction of animals, he said.

A progressive grower from Multan, Saddiq Akbar, gave a detailed presentation on organic farming. He showed how he achieved high cotton yield by using furrow-bed planting. He has achieved 30 per cent higher yield of commercial varieties and 50 per cent in case of cotton hybrids utilizing combination of compost fertilizer and chemical fertilizer in new technology of ditch planting.

The workshop consisted of seven technical sessions and 60 participants from diverse national organizations of the Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP attended it. Twenty-five papers were presented by experts, including researchers, farmers and private entrepreneurs.

The first session provided an overview of the achievements of agricultural centres of PAEC and the scope of organic farming for sustainable agriculture.

In the second session on ‘seed and crop management’, six papers were presented by experts from different institutions. Special attention was paid to the significance of maintaining speed, quality, duration, production, handling storage and use. The lecture on off-season vegetable attracted great attention as a means to generate financial gains over a short period and on a small farm size.

‘Soil management’, which was the subject of third session, provided an opportunity to learn the latest techniques to maintain and improve soil health, especially of problem soils, by conserving (zero tillage) and augmenting (using bio-fertilizers and copping) soil resources, including moisture, organic matter content and microbial life. Zero tillage technology is less labour intensive and economical. However, threadbare discussions were held on side effects (particularly parasite/predator relationship, weeds, etc.) accompanying zero tillage.

Temporary or relatively long-term shortage of irrigation water, its consequences for crop production and the methods to economise water use provided the basis for three papers during the fourth session on ‘water management’. Special attention was paid to improving the quality of irrigation water through chemical treatment like use of gypsum or acid. Conservation of water through increasing the level of soil organic matter or using surface mulch was shown to be a promising choice.

‘Management of fertilizers’ and their use was the subject of the fifth session. Four speakers provided a review of the available technologies to tackle fertilizer problem. Use of mineral fertilizers in conjunction with organic manures, time and placement of application and fertigation technique were some of the aspects covered during the discussions.

Session on ‘plant protection’ consisted of four papers of basic and applied interest. Biological as well as integrated pest management were projected as the more appropriate approaches compared to chemical methods alone for controlling plant diseases. It was emphasized that plant types resistant to prevailing and upcoming disease needed to be developed.

In the session on ‘animal health and nutrition’ not only new vaccines developed at Niab were introduced, but food supplements were also proposed to augment animal nutrition. One such nutrient supplement has been developed at Niab that helps keep the animals healthy and more productive in terms of milk and meat.

In the concluding session, participants appreciated the efforts of Niab scientists in not only developing and disseminating new agricultural technologies, but in providing a useful forum for exchange of information that would help sustain agricultural productivity.

The workshop adopted 16 recommendations which, among other things, say the farming community should be trained in modern techniques and hybrid seed of common crops and vegetables may be produced by progressive farmers; retiring employees from agriculture-related services be allotted some land as practised for ex-servicemen and provided soft loans for raising farm infrastructures.

Such expert-run farms could become forerunners for developing modern technology-based agriculture production system; diversifying agriculture, oil crops, castor, medicinal plants, cut flowers and vegetables should be supported and encouraged; in wheat-rice rotation, a short duration mungbean variety between the two to maximize the income and economise fertilize use; addition of organic matter through green manuring, composts from plant, animal residues and mandatory cover crops; reclamation of salt-arrested soils with traditional methods where affordable bio-saline agriculture technology may otherwise be promoted as a low input alternative for appropriate economic return and slow but steady soil improvements; evaluation of drought tolerant crops for rain-fed areas; introduction of crops like olives, fig and citrus; adoption of zero-tillage technology for wheat in both rice-wheat and cotton-wheat rotations preferably using furrow-bed technology in waterlogged as well as drought-hit areas; promotion of use of mulches and green manures and sprinkler and drip irrigation systems be popularized as a measure to conserve and economise irrigation water; strictly following of quality standards of groundwater and if required, brackish water treated at source using calcium, acids or acid formers; use of urea in conjunction with SSP to reduce N losses.

Use of ammonium sulphate on saline lands, while potassium fertilizers in crops like potato and sugarcane will be beneficial; use of bio-fertilizers for solubilize native and to fix atmospheric N. chemical fertilizers may be added after soil tests and where possible, integrated use of chemical and organic fertilizers; fertigation is a convenient and efficient method for application of all soluble nutrients. It is particularly useful for split applications; common deficiencies of micronutrients may conveniently be tackled; use of 150 to 200 gram zinc sulphate per marla of rice nursery is useful.

Foliar spray of cotton with 0.1 per cent boric acid in surfactant at 45, 60 and 90 days of crop will alleviate B deficiency. Some NPK compounds/fertilizers containing micronutrients are also available; adoption of non-chemical plant protection measures and integrated pest management involving the pest resistant varieties, biocontrol agents like parasites and predators; use of pheromone traps and judicious/selective and encouragement of the use of pesticides; tackling of problem of agricultural termites by biological means e.g. by using poplar sticks in sugarcane. Mandatory participation of farmers in research and development of agricultural institutions system; telecasting of expert talks with farmers during prime TV time.

WEEKS before the anticipated Anglo-American strikes on Afghanistan began on Sunday, diplomats had already been flying out of Islamabad in droves, leaving only a skeleton staff behind. So had other foreigners from multinational corporations and other foreign organizations with offices in the country. In addition, the majority of international airlines had suspended their flights to Pakistan.

Is it just that the foreigners are more careful and cautious people, who were simply taking precautionary measures? Or are they rightly more pessimistic about what’s going to be in store for the region?

Their flight from Pakistan had occurred in anticipation of the region becoming a war zone with the outbreak of an American attack on Afghanistan and, consequently, a fallout on Pakistan. Just about the only foreigners left in the country are the scores of media people stationed in Islamabad and Peshawar, whose nearly one-month wait for the impending attack finally broke when the missile strikes on Afghanistan began on Sunday night.

Hectic preparations have already been undertaken by the government in Islamabad and other agencies to deal with an expected huge refugee influx and any consequent outbreak of diseases brought by these refugees. The security forces are on full alert, specially in the capital and its twin city, Rawalpindi, to deal with a backlash for the attacks on Afghanistan in the form of bomb blasts or violent mass demonstrations by the religious groups.

But is this all the fallout that is being expected? Does the government in Islamabad know just what kind of long-term military operations the Americans are planning for Afghanistan and what kind of weapons they are contemplating using, apart from the current missile and bomb attacks on major Afghan cities? What are the consequent risks that Pakistanis are expected to face?

While the use of tactical nuclear weapons against targets in Afghanistan is a remote possibility, although this idea was apparently actually considered as an option, some analysts fear that the US forces could eventually use depleted uranium on Afghanistan.

They base their argument on the fact that depleted uranium has been a weapon most often used in recent warfare by the US and the allied forces: against Iraq in the Gulf War and in the conflict in the Balkans. The weapon’s effects on the Iraqi population, viz. high incidence of leukemia amongst children, are well-known.

Analysts say if depleted uranium is eventually used on Afghanistan, the radioactive dust released by the impact of these weapons can easily get into the food chain and the water supply through the Kabul River in Afghanistan and thus into Pakistan’s Indus. There are simply no contingency measures to brace people against such a disastrous humanitarian fallout.

In addition to this kind of risks, which would be a direct result of the attack on Afghanistan, there are also the indirect risks, viz. retaliatory terrorist strikes on Pakistan and destabilization caused by unrest among the religious groups opposed to the American attack on Afghanistan.

The region in and around the capital, Islamabad, is particularly vulnerable. For one thing, the major civilian nuclear installations are situated nearby, constituting sitting targets for any retaliatory strike. Moreover, Islamabad, from where intelligence, logistics and air support for the American operation in Afghanistan springs, is also the capital that is the closest in proximity to Kabul.

While Islamabad has reassured the Americans of “unstinted support” in the international war against terrorism, in return has it been “unstintedly” told of all the possible risks and consequences that the American operation in Afghanistan could have on Pakistanis?

Or are Pakistani lives considered to be cheap and dispensable, just as the Iraqi civilians are, and perhaps the Afghan civilians will soon too be, considered “unworthy victims,” a term used by John Pilger in an article on Oct 4 in The Guardian. John Pilger was commenting on an exhibition at the Barbican in London devoted to photo-journalism showing terrible haunting pictures ranging from Hiroshima, Vietnam and finally Iraq, where the continuing Anglo-American bombing campaign is almost never reported, raising serious questions about the biased policies of American and British politicians and the media.

He wrote: “The 6,000 people who died in America on September 11 are ‘worthy victims’ that is they are worthy of our honour and a relentless pursuit of justice. In contrast, the 6,000 people who die every month in Iraq, the victims of a mediaeval siege devised and imposed by Washington and Whitehall are, like the little sisters (aged 10 and 12 years) bombed to death in their sleep in Basra, ‘unworthy victims’ unworthy of even acknowledgement in the ‘civilized’ West.”

The lives of Pakistani civilians, or for that matter Afghan civilians, are no less worthy than those American lives lost on Sept 11. Pakistanis have the right to know what they are in for in this whole operation. They have the right to be warned of the possible humanitarian disastrous effects of the American policies in the region. Unless, of course, the government in Islamabad knows better.

BALOCHISTAN is getting ready to face the serious consequences of a possible war in Afghanistan as the US and British armada is off the Makran Coast, preparing for punitive action any moment against the military targets of the Taliban, specially attacking the alleged terrorist training bases inside that country.

Balochistan has very long borders with Afghanistan, starting from Malik Siah Koh near Zahedan and ending in Waziristan, more than 1,200km long. Security forces, mainly personnel from the Frontier Corps, Balochistan, are effectively manning the borders trying to seal these as much as they can. The border-crossing through illegal and unfrequented routes is being plugged to a great extent.

Some time it is offending to the local tribes settled on both sides of the borders. Even the unregistered routes with Afghanistan are sealed to some extent. Cooperation of border tribes is sought to restrict the movement of unauthorized people which may contribute to war efforts on the other side. A score of students from madressahs in the province were spotted and caught on the borders. They were first arrested and later on allowed to go back to their own areas.

It was a clear message to the students of religious institutions in the province that they will not be allowed to cross the international frontiers and join their fellow Taliban in a war against the world coalition against terrorism. The Pakistan government is honouring its commitments made to the world community that it had joined the coalition against terrorism and making its humble contribution in this regard. It is visible on this side of the international frontier.

However, the Afghans are still crossing the border and managing to reach safer places and escape the disastrous effects of war in their country. The provincial government has already declared an emergency in major hospitals, cancelled leaves of doctors and paramedical staff and advised them to be available to meet any emergency. The declaration of emergency in hospitals is not only confined to this provincial capital, but is extended to major townships close to the Afghan borders such as Chaghai, Qila Abdullah, Zhob districts.

Necessary life-saving drugs and equipment have been provided to these hospitals to meet any eventuality. Abandoned medical and surgical wards in the provincial government hospitals are renovated and equipped with necessary facilities to accommodate patients. Even eye hospitals are making enough beds available to meet any emergency.

Similarly, the international aid agencies are also engaged in mobilizing resources to meet the possible influx of people from Afghanistan. Food, tents, medicines, mainly life-saving drugs, and other necessary supplies are being rushed to Balochistan and dispatched to different directions where the refugee camps are supposed to be established.

The governor, Justice Amirul Mulk Mengal, has told the newsmen the government would keep all the Afghan refugees in camps. They would not be allowed free movement or mix up with the local population in the major townships and villages. In the past, the military government of Gen Ziaul Haq did not confine the refugees to the camps and allowed them free movement, do business, operate commuter buses and live like Pakistani citizens with all the privileges and rights. This time, the Afghan displaced persons would remain in the camps fenced with barbed-wire and guarded by security forces and would not be allowed to leave the camps at all.

However, they would be provided all facilities by the international aid agencies and the Pakistan authorities within their camps. Last week, over 400 Afghan refugees, including women and children, had crossed the border illegally and managed to reach Quetta where they were immediately rounded up by the police and lodged at the Ayub Stadium. After an overnight detention these refugees were taken to the borders and pushed back into Afghanistan.

It was a clear signal to the Afghans this time. The reason is known to all. In the last influx and after the Soviet invasion, the Afghan refugees were involved in heinous social crimes, brought with them the Kalashnikov-cum-heroin culture and made it a part of our culture and day-to-day life. Some of them were hired mercenaries and involved in acts of terrorism, besides other crimes.

In any way, they will be a big burden on the weak and shattered economy of Balochistan. The local economy cannot sustain the additional burden of a million or more Afghans for a long time. There is a growing fear that both the world coalition and the federal government would leave all these refugees at the mercy of Balochistan and its people after they achieve their objectives, as it was confirmed during 1980s to this date.

The federal government patronized all Afghans, allowed them to share the resources of Balochistan with the local people, provided them valid travel and other official documents, ignored their Kalashnikovs and condoned their drug trafficking and gun-running. Above all, they were allowed to mix with the local population. About a million are still in the townships and villages of Balochistan, sharing the limited resources with the local people.

If the policies of the previous military regime are pursued this time also as regards the Afghan refugees, it would cost Balochistan dearly and further weaken its economy. The federal government must see the problem in its correct perspective in order to cope with it later on when things are settled.