HYDERABAD: National and international experts have expressed serious concerns over growing challenges of water scarcity, soil salinity, climate change and declining organic matters.

Those factors posed a significant threat to Pakistan’s agricultural sustainability and food security, they warned while speaking at the inaugural session of the ‘First International Soil Science Conference’ organised on Tuesday by Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, in collaboration with the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC).

Organised in line with the theme of ‘Soil — Our Silent Lifeline for a Prosperous Future’, the two-day event brought together soil scientists, researchers and agricultural policy experts from different countries.

SAU Vice Chancellor Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said that inefficient water distribution, reduced river flows, unregulated chemical use and a decline in soil’s natural fertility had left even the most productive regions of Sindh exhausted. “Soil is the backbone of our existence. But we have failed to protect this vital resource. To sustain its fertility, we must urgently transition to sustainable agricultural systems, adopt suitable cropping patterns, and embrace modern irrigation techniques,” he urged.

Sindh agriculture research Director General Dr Mazharuddin Keerio echoed the same sentiments, emphasising that lack of attention to climate impacts and soil health had led to a steep decline in soil productivity. He called for promoting advanced cropping technologies, enhancement of organic matter and adoption of soil improvement measures.

Soil scientist and former agriculture research DG Prof Dr Qazi Suleman Memon noted that there was no comprehensive data on soil fertility and salinity levels across province. “Without accurate data, policy makers could not make informed decisions,” he said, urging development of region-specific, data-driven soil maps.

Head of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Sindh office, Julius Gitonga Muchemi, reiterated that organisation’s commitment to supporting farmers in tackling climate and land degradation challenges. “We are encouraging adoption of modern farming techniques,” he said and added that “but many farmers are reluctant to implement our research-backed recommendations.”

The director general of the Southern Agricultural Research Centre (SARC) under the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Dr Zakir Hussain Dahri, observed that several regions in Sindh, including lower Indus basin, were severely affected by rising salinity and decreasing levels of organic carbon.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025