FAISALABAD, May 16: Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) chairman Dr Ehsan Tasneem says the rising trend of tubewell irrigation is not favourable for crops and lands as well. Speaking to participants of a two-day national seminar on ‘Soil Care for Sustainable Environment’ held here at the University of Agriculture, Dr Ehsan said to avoid land degradation, scientists and policy makers must introduce ways to recycle sewage and make efficient use of brackish water.

“The introduction of human and environment-friendly mechanism is vital for getting a sustained agriculture and human development.”

He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between research institutions to avoid wastage of time and money on identical projects.

According to Dr Ehsan, overdose of fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides did affect nutritional values of crops. He urged scientists to introduce high-nutritional crops.

Presenting keynote address, Dr M. Sharif Zia expressed concern over the degradation of natural resources (soil, water, range forest and agro-biodiversity) “at an alarming rate.”

He said that food requirements of rapidly-growing population could not be met through horizontal expansion of agriculture.

Faculty of Agriculture dean Dr Muhammad Ashfaq was also worried at increased land degradation due to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, salinization/sodification and other environmental factors.