MARDAN: A two-day conference on ‘biochar for climate smart agriculture’ began at the Agriculture Department of the Abdul Wali Khan University here on Tuesday.

The event held in collaboration with the International Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Research, Office of Research Innovation and Commercial-isation,and Eurasian School System is meant to highlight the importance of biochar for life on earth.

Prof Khan Bahadar Marwat, a guest speaker, said healthy soils were fundamental to produce clean water, preserve biodiversity, and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change, especially for poor farmers of developing countries.

He said the cause of soil protection was high on the international agenda amid calls for collaborative and coordinated efforts for it.

AWKUM vice-chancellor Dr Khurshid Khan, who was the chief guest in the opening session, said man-made climate change was a very scary thing.

“The rise in global temperature over the last several decades is a matter of public record. There is an overwhelming scientific consensus that it can only be explained by one thing: the rise in greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities,” he said.

Dr Riaz, another guest speaker, said some people insisted climate change natural, so there was nothing to worry about.

“We have naturally-occurring climate change since the Earth was formed but none of the natural causes of climate variation from the Sun’s output to the tilt of the Earth to volcanic activity to emissions from rotting vegetation can account for the warming we observe today,” he said.

AWKUM Agriculture Department chairman Dr Zafar Hayat Khan said healthy soils were direly needed to provide essential services to the people, especially when population was growing, cities were expanding, the climate was changing and more food was needed.

“Sustainable management systems and practices will unlock the full potential of soils to support food production, store and supply clean water, preserve biodiversity, sequester more carbon, and increase resilience to a changing climate,” he said.

Dr Kawsar Ali of the AWKUM Agriculture Department, who was the chief organiser of the event, said healthy soils and healthy seeds were necessary for producing healthy diets, while the growing of pulses improved the quality of soils.

A group walk was later arranged to create awareness of soil conservation.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2019