08 November 2004	Monday	24 Ramazan 1425

Resources have ever been limited and man can only conserve them. For agriculture, availability of farm inputs at right time and in proper quantity is important. The only solution to meet food demand is to get maximum production from land resources for which all available factors of production must be combined in a way that maximum quantity and quality are assured.

Under the WTO regime, it would be difficult for the developing nations to survive without having market-oriented agriculture for which optimization of recourses is important. This can be achieved by combining best quality with less cost and enhanced production.

The importance of wheat as a major cereal crop and a staple food cannot be denied. Wheat import for domestic need is not only costly but is a burden on the economy. Agriculture depends on environment and nothing can surely be said about the outcome of its success. At times wheat production goes beyond the target while at others it fails to fulfil even domestic consumption.

Thus, agricultural production is a gamble with environmental conditions. To ensure higher production targets, the government policies should be formulated with a provision for resource conservation technologies. The zero tillage is one among few, designed for rice growing districts and could be beneficial for achieving good yields in less time and with little cost.

Rice is an important cereal crop of upper Punjab but is also cultivated in some areas of Sindh. It is a water loving crop and requires almost 16 to 18 irrigations. After rice harvest, the moisture in soil is enough for sowing the next crop i.e., wheat. Due to late harvesting of rice wheat sowing is usually delayed. Its production is sensitive in relation to sowing time.

The conventional operations further delay the sowing thus resulting in decreased yield. Instead, if zero tillage is used then timely sowing of the crop would be achieved and the yield enhanced. Apart from timely sowing of wheat crop zero tillage technology can further benefit the farmers.

Field survey shows that yield level is better in case of zero tillage but the issue is debatable and needs further research. There is criticism that the insect-pest attacks on next season rice crop are increased due to zero tillage. The reason given is that the larvae of different rice borers pupate in soil and in the unburned rice stubbles makes problems for next crop.

Research shows that the insect-pest attack on the next rice crop is not a problem but the zero tillage used for many years is. It should be kept in mind before sowing rice that each pupa has specific time and conditions for becoming an adult. The rice nursery must be grown according to the recommendations of the agriculture department. Overall, a great controversy is found over this issue.

Different field surveys show that if zero tillage method is evaluated it will be a good method for wheat sowing in rice growing districts of Pakistan. This method not only saves water but also gives a reasonable production level. Rice growers, on average, are not the big landlords and their holding in rice belt is less as compared to the cotton belt.

Small farmers have advantage as this technology earns more money with little investment. But the drills are costly and can effectively be used through proper guidelines provided by the agriculture department officials. Questions are also raised for the availability of the zero-tillage drill and its functioning. Presently, only a few private agro-engineering firms are involved in the manufacture of drills.

Manufacturers are continuously upgrading its functioning to solve seed choking due to heavy load of rice straw residues, appropriate seed placement at boarders and a change from iron to plastic plates for efficient seed releases. Efforts are also underway to make the zero tillage drill sowing technology suitable for other crops, as well.

The share of rice growing districts in the total production of wheat is less as compared to cotton. As zero tillage method adds to the production of wheat crop, it will have a positive impact on the economy because of better production. More foreign exchange could be attained through surplus production and wheat import can be reduced. Similarly, fuel cost will also be saved.

Some field surveys favour high production but others give yield levels by the zero tillage and conventional methods of sowing, almost equal. If the yield level is equal or less in case of zero tillage method then, a policy debate can be raised for its impact on the overall target achievement of the wheat for a year.

Field surveys show that whether the yield in case of the zero tillage is high or low, its benefit cost ratio is higher than the conventional sowing method. This indicates that this technology has potentials to solve the problems of rice-wheat system and can give great benefits in terms of cost reduction, fuel saving, more grain yield and less environmental pollution.

The only need is to provide site specific information to farmers. For this purpose strong extension work is required. We need to give confidence to farmers regarding this technology. Extension services should be strengthened to disseminate the results of zero-tillage technology among the farming community.