ALTHOUGH Pakistan has less than one per cent contribution towards global greenhouse gas emissions, it has been affected by the global warming pheno-menon rather seriously. Pakistan’s ranking on the Human Development Index is 164 among 193 countries, making it a very low-income country. The largest section of the population lives in villages with bare minimum living standards. The focus of development, as such, should be rural Pakistan.

We all have heard that Pakistan has an agriculture-driven economy. But the economy has continued to struggle. This is so because we have continued to take a conventional approach to harvesting. We need to shun this approach.

There are countries that use ducks as a pest control strategy instead of chemicals. Duck farming offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, with proven success in rice fields in many countries, including Japan, Vietnam, China and South Africa, as can be seen in the accompanying image. This method brings several advantages. Ducks actively consume pests, such as snails and insects, as well as weeds that pose a threat to rice plants, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.

The ducks’ movement aerates the soil, promoting nutrient flow and enriching the rice field ecosystem. Besides, duck drop-pings serve as a natural fertiliser, impr-oving soil nutrients without artificial additives.

In Pakistan, regions known for rice cultivation, such as Punjab and Sindh, may adopt duck farming for pest control. Key factors to assess include the adapt-ability of duck species, water availability, and the farming practices prevalent in these areas.

Introducing duck farming may require specific training to ensure effective man-agement and integration within the rice fields. Ducks thrive in water-rich envir-onments, so fields would need a controlled water supply that supports duck activity without crop damage.

While being potentially cost-effective over time, duck farming involves upfront costs and ongoing maintenance. If carefully implemented, duck farming could align with Pakistan’s sustainable agricultural goals, offering a dual benefit of pest control and supplementary income through ducks, eggs and meat.

Syed Muhammad Hasan Baqar Rizvi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2024