‘Deforestation, floods a threat to food security’

FAISALABAD: Deforestation, floods, climate changes, water scarcity and lack of early warning systems are a serious threat to food security. It was echoed during the first meeting of the newly-established USAID-funded Centre for Advanced Studies in Food Security and Agriculture (CASFSA) at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
Speaking on the occasion, CASFSA Director Dr Bashir Ahmad said that the country’s population was increasing rapidly whereas water reservoirs and agricultural land were diminishing. He said that effective measures were needed to fight with the food security. He said that five chairs had been established under the CASFSA. They were Agricultural Policy Chair, Climate Change Chair, Biotechnology Chair, Precision Agriculture Chair and Outreach Chair, he added. He said that the CASFSA would provide off-campus learning experience to at least 200 students at the University of California, the US.
CAS Climate Chair Head Dr Ashfaq Ahmad said: “We need to redefine agro ecological zones and introduce new cropping patterns in line with the ecological zones.” He said that the proposed research agenda of the chair was to set up climate change monitoring system, establishment of agri data bank based on past and future climate and crop and livestock data for stakeholders. He called for working and promoting the climate resilient agricultural practices.
Progressive farmer Dr Manzoor said that the US had water reservoirs for 1,086 days followed by China and India but Pakistan had only 28 days water reservoirs. He stressed the need to devise the policies for compensating the farmers affected by climate change.