LAHORE: The government has taken a critical step forward to improve the country’s economic outlook, food security and the livelihood of farmers by approving agricultural technology that will enable the production of more crops while using fewer resources and minimising the impact to the environment.

CropLife Asia Executive Director Dr Siang Hee Tan and Biotechnology Affairs Director Sonny Tababa said this at a press briefing regarding media on new technologies and their adoption. They said as population grew, so did requirement for food and fiber.

Both also appreciated the recent decision of the Ministry of Climate Change and the Ministry of National Food Security & Research to allow genetically-enhanced corn seeds that would help farmers produce better crops and reduce overall environmental impact.

“As population continues to grow here in Asia and around the world, we look to our farmers to produce more food with less arable land, less water, and less impact on the environment,” said Dr Tan.

“It’s quite a challenge, but it’s one that we can meet and overcome together by utilising the latest agricultural innovations, including plant science technology. The Pakistani government is to be commended for taking this important step towards realising a better future for their farmers and the nation’s economy as well as improve the country’s capacity to help meet the challenges of the growing world around us.”

“We should continue to use all the tools at our disposal, including biotechnology, to improve Pakistan farmers’ lives and to ensure we meet the community’s expectations of producing quality food and fiber in a safe and sustainable way,” added Mr Afzal, head of the CropLife Pakistan.

“The government’s approval of insect-protected and herbicide-tolerant corn seeds will not only boost the corn farmer productivity, it will also encourage the future local and international investment in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.”

A combination of technologies also plays a key role in supplying food sustainably. He said key goals for plant breeders and biotechnology include protection against insect damage, responsible use of novel herbicide tolerances, disease resistance, hybrid systems to raise yield, nutrient-use efficiency, carbon sequestration, salinity tolerance, cold and frost tolerance and drought tolerance. Achieving all these goals requires not only traditional breeding skills, but also the use of novel molecular techniques and transgenics, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2016