Muhammad Saleem

Fast-maturing crop varieties are essential for ensuring food security in Pakistan. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad talking to WealthPk said that due to climate change, cultivation patterns are changing rapidly.

“Only faster-maturing crop varieties can help Pakistan produce more food, save water, fight climate change, and reduce dependence on imports. We need strong policy support and better seed access if we truly want to make this work,” he said. “These crops can help us produce more food in less time, which is crucial to feed Pakistani people, develop the agriculture sector, and support our economy,” he emphasized.

He said that crops that mature faster would enable the farmers to produce faster than normal traditional varieties. This will enable them to cultivate more than one crop during the same season, particularly in places where the time of growth is limited.  These varieties also consume less water, which is beneficial for areas that have a short supply of water, he added.

Ahtsham Shami, a progressive farmer, told WealthPk that Pakistani farmers are hardworking and dedicated, but nowadays, their efforts are going to waste. The main reason is climate change, along with the high cost of pesticides, fertilizers, and the use of fake seeds. If the situation continues, farmers will suffer badly and won’t be able to contribute to the progress of agriculture, he added.

“Farming methods are changing with time, but we are not getting the same benefits from our crops as we used to a few years ago. In other words, our crop yield is lower than it used to be,” he claimed. He said that in such conditions, it is important for universities, agricultural departments, and scientists to introduce new crop varieties that can give more output with less effort.

Many farmers are still using outdated and traditional techniques. It is the government’s responsibility to train farmers according to modern methods, so they can grow more food effectively for the country, he suggested. He said rulers are raising slogans for food security which means that every person has access to enough safe, healthy, and affordable food. But in practice, they are slow, leaving farmers at the mercy of nature.

Shami said, “we can reach food targets if we grow faster-maturing crops that will help farmers increase food production.” Besides, he said that in case there is a flood, drought or crop fail, the farmers can re-plant and still get a harvest since these crops take a short time to grow. He said that Pakistan’s economy is in a weak position, and with current methods the agriculture sector will not be in a position to supply enough food to the country.

Realizing this fact, he stressed the importance of becoming less dependent on imports, as Pakistan is spending billions of rupees to import pulses and other crops. “By growing more food at home using faster-maturing varieties, we can save money and ease the pressure on foreign exchange reserves,” he suggested.

Credit: INP-WealthPk