HYDERABAD: Agricultural exp­erts from various research institutions and progressive growers, have expressed concerns about escalating impacts of climate change, water scarcity and drought in Sindh while emphasising urgent need for farmers’ access to climate-resilient and short-duration crop varieties, and efficient water-use technologies through collaborative research.

They were speaking at a validation workshop organised on Tuesday by the Agricultural Research Sindh in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) and Sindh agriculture extension department as part of Green Climate Fund (GCF) project, focused on validating agricultural data from climate-resilient demonstration plots established in Sanghar, Umerkot and Badin.

SAU VC Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said recent studies positioned Sindh among the most climate-vulnerable regions globally and Sindh was experiencing rising temperatures, erratic and reduced rainfall, and prolonged droughts, severely impacting agriculture and farming communities.

He noted significant shifts in crop cycles for rice and cotton, underscoring necessity of transitioning to short-duration crops and adopting micro-irrigation technologies. He stressed the importance of effectively conveying research findings and innovative practices to farmers.

James Robert Okoth, senior programme officer of the FAO, said validating research findings was a crucial step towards promoting climate-resilient agriculture in Sindh. He praised SAU’s collaborative efforts in implementing the project.

He acknowledged the contributions of the SAU faculty and students in the ongoing research on those demonstration plots, emphasising that academic involvement could further refine those techniques scientifically.

Dr Mazharuddin Keerio, DG of Agricultural Research Sindh, said climate change posed a critical challenge to province’s food security. He stated that showcasing modern agricultural practices would support adoption of sustainable farming techniques, enabling farmers to maintain productivity despite changing climatic conditions.,

FAO’s Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Nahiyoon provided insights into the project, revealing that harvesting of various crops cultivated under modern agricultural practices on those demonstration plots was completed. Collected data indicated significant improvements in yield, soil health and water efficiency, he added.

Other speakers included Imdad Ali Soho, director of Agriculture Research Sindh; Dr Ghulam Murtaza Jamro, SAU focal person, and representatives from the Sindh Abadgar Board.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025