KARACHI: Speakers at an international conference on Friday underscored the need to look for wild crops, landraces and alternative plant species to tackle climate change and growing food insecurity.

The three-day conference on saline resource management in the context of global climate change is jointly organised by Karachi University’s Dr Mohammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, Salim Habib University (SHU) and Nuclear Institute of Agriculture University, Tandojam, at a local hotel here.

Local and international experts participating in the conference shared how climate change was adversely affecting agricultural productivity and damaging life and property across the world, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to improve crop production and livestock management and overcome challenges posing a threat to food security as conventional methods had proven to be short-lived and expensive.

Prof Wang Sen from China talked about planting non-woody species to fight climate change and the role of the belt and road project in Gwadar.

He also spoke about the potential of grafting Chinese Jujubi with Pakistani Jujubi plants for high yield and fruit quality.

Three-day international conference on saline resource management opens

Dr Nuria Koteyeva from Russia presented the results of salinity experiments on the anatomical changes in plants particularly the salt glands that excrete excess salt from the leaf surface.

Dr Irfan Ahmad from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, spoke about the effects of salinity on the bamboo species, which are found in Pakistan. He suggested commercial usage of bamboo in the country.

Dr Habib-ur-Rehman Athar from BZU, Multan, presented findings of his research pertaining to the physiological and molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in Canola varieties.

He concluded that some varieties of canola are highly salt-tolerant and could be cultivated in salt-affected lands in Pakistan.

Dr Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz from KU informed the audience about the forest regeneration and carbon sequestration of forest trees. He said the natural regeneration of forest trees, particularly Albizia lebbeck, locally known as siris, was very slow.

He suggested specific treatment of seeds to break their dormancy and the use of halophytes in saline agriculture to tackle food security.

Dr Aldre Aamir from Malaysia discussed the implications of mangrove loss on communities and their connectivity with adjacent habitats such as mudflats, sea grass and coral reefs. He stressed making recommendations for solid governance of mangrove resources, including habitat management and conservation for carbon sequestration.

Earlier, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and SHU Vice Chancellor Prof Shakeel Ahmad Khan spoke about the importance of saline resource management with particular reference to growing population, urbanisation and climate change.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2023