February 24, 2007	Saturday	Safar 6, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: An inefficient system is keeping the wheat yield well below the country’s potential and causing national loss of $3 billion annually, according to an agriculture scientist.

The potential yield per annum should have been 38 million tons with an average of 4.5 tons per hectare, Dr Amir Mohammad said while delivering a lecture on “Climate change and its impact on agriculture in Pakistan” at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) here on Wednesday.

Figures provided by him placed the average yield during the past five years (2001-2005) at 21 million tons a year with 2.5 tons per hectare.

He warned that climatic changes would greatly impact the agricultural production if no concerted efforts were made at the national and international levels.

Dr Mohammad, who was the founding chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), said that climate change was gaining importance in all research and development activities, especially in the context of food security.

Having an agro-based economy, he said, Pakistan required urgent focus on addressing the issues in the wake of rapid climatic changes that might seriously upset the agricultural output.

In his analysis of global warming and climate change, he focused on how the scientists could do better to face the current and future challenges. He said PARC being the pioneer research institute of the country should play a pivotal role to meet the future challenges.

The scientist proposed a six-point strategy to strengthen agricultural research, stressing on establishing a Climate and Agriculture Research Group; setting up database on historical climate data and projected changes for Pakistan; developing high capacity in modelling; ensuring quality teaching in agro- meteorology; establishing a cooperative research programme with Pakistan Meteorological Department; and developing close linkages with international organisations dealing with global change.

To ensure food security, the government needs accurate, reliable and advance information concerning the status of the wheat crop ahead of the harvest and until the availability of the final estimates.

This goal can be attained by making relevant forecasts of future crop area and yield and carrying out proper actions as suggested by the results.