RAWALPINDI - Speakers stressed for adopting innovative techniques of irrigation to overcome water shortage and ensure sustainable agriculture growth for food security across the globe including Pakistan.
They stated this while addressing at inaugural session of five-day international workshop on irrigation water for enhancing productivity in achieving food safety here on Monday.
The workshop is being organised by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) in collaboration with National Productivity Organisation (NPO), Ministry of Industries and Production and Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) Japan with an aim to create awareness among all stakeholders to introduce use of innovative technologies, share best practices of irrigation and water management, to enhance food productivity and increase the food security in the country.
Arif Ibrahim, additional secretary ministry of industries and productions as well as alternate APO director, was the chief guest of the inaugurating session.  He said that Pakistan’s agriculture sector contributes 21-25 per cent of the GDP and employs about half of the labour force. He further said that Pakistan is blessed with fertile land, rivers, suitable climate and rich soil, however due to mismanagement and inadequate drainage and irrigation systems, water logging and salinity, the agricultural production was below to its potential. Since agriculture is a main user of water, therefore sustainability of agriculture depends on timely and adequately availability of water. Pakistan’s agriculture is dependent on irrigation that supplies over 90 per cent of the agricultural production. Recognising this event as a very important event he appreciated the efforts of NPO and APO in regards to reviewing current agricultural policies within different regions of Pakistan.