Conference concludes in Swat: Action sought to protect mountain agriculture

MINGORA: The participants of an international conference here on Thursday urged the government to take urgent action to protect mountain agriculture. The called for farmer training programmes, introduction of new crop varieties, and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural methods.

The demand was made at the end of the three-day international conference on “Climate Change and Agriculture in Mountainous Regions” in Kanju Township, Swat. The University of Agriculture Swat had arranged the moot.

The event attracted participants from Pakistan, Australia, China, Afghanistan, and other countries. The participants included agricultural experts, researchers, university faculty, students, representatives from government and non-governmental organizations, and local farmers. The experts delivered presentations on the increasing impact of climate change on agriculture in Pakistan.

They revealed that Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change. In particular, the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-such as Swat, Dir, Chitral, and Shangla-are highly vulnerable due to their dependence on rain-fed agriculture, limited arable land, and traditional farming practices.

Speakers said that while nearly 65 per cent of Pakistan’s land was used for agricultural purposes, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, droughts, flooding, and declining soil fertility have emerged as significant challenges, especially for farmers in mountainous regions.

They stressed that climate-related challenges in these areas are far more complex and threatening compared to the plains. Addressing the concluding session, vice-chancellor of the University of Agriculture Swat, Professor Dr Dawood Jan, said that the university had established a dedicated department focused on mountain agriculture.