Our present lifestyles and consumption patterns reflect how the majority still consider resource depletion and environmental degradation as myths. The way we waste food, consume water and ignore the rapidly changing climatic conditions, such as rising temperatures, reinforce the perception that if the earth has supported human life so far, it will continue to do so without ever running out of its natural resources.
We even tend to overlook basic facts and global trends that project the severity of these issues. According to statistics published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the world’s population is expected to cross 9.7 billion by 2025, which means there will be approximately 30 percent more mouths to feed. While United Nations (UN) statistics show that the population, in general, is consuming better quality food, millions of people still experience chronic hunger, especially in developing countries. The stark contrast between improved nutritional intake and extreme levels of hunger shows the disparity that the world faces and needs to address.
The food and agriculture industry lies at the centre of these changing global dynamics and fast integrating world system. Within this sector, small holder farmers, due to their lack of awareness and reliance on traditional farming practices,form the most vulnerable group. According to Global Harvest Initiative’s report, water availability issues, unpredictable weather, and deteriorating plant health due to emergent pest pressures, put 500 million small holder farmers at risk.Furthermore, the severity of these challenges becomes more alarming due to land availability issues.
Pakistan faces similar challenges, as it is a developing country and as a result, is heavily reliant on agriculture. According to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, it ranks third amongst countries facing water shortage. With the rise in population and urbanisation, the area under cultivation is rapidly shrinking, and farm holdings are becoming smaller. In the next two decades, the temperature is expected to rise by three degrees, monsoon rains are expected to be drastically reduced, and droughts and floods are predicted.
The success of several initiatives by both the public and private sector presents a promising scenario for technology adoption in agriculture
In the midst of the dilemma to produce more for the growing population, while relying on limited and already depleting natural resources, latest innovations and technologies continue to drive growth in agriculture production around the world. These technological solutions are aimed at addressing the evolving challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, rising demand for food and balanced nutrition, and limited availability of land and other resources. Despite being at its nascent stage, modern agriculture, based on scientifically backed research, offers promising developments especially for agrarian economies such as Pakistan.
The success of several initiatives by both the public and private sector presents a promising scenario for technology adoption in agriculture. The use of mobile and ICT-based solutions to disseminate information and educate farmers is becoming a useful medium for service provision. Recently, the Government of Punjab launched the Connected Agriculture Platform (CAP), to provide agriculture advisory services to farmers for helping them make informed decisions in a timely manner.These advisory services include technical information such as weather updates, disease and pest control measures, as well as information related to subsidies, loans and other incentives. Similarly, academia is playing a vital role in conducting research and consequently raising awareness about latest technologies in agriculture. One such exciting area is precision and digital agriculture technology. By using technologies such as drone imagery, and field and soil sensors to gather critical information, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) is undertaking several projects in collaboration with local and international partners to come up with innovative and low-cost means of farm management that require less labour and offer more accurate information.
Advanced plant breeding capability, and cutting-edge biotechnology traits are other emerging areas that hold tremendous promise from the perspective of research and commercialisation. The recently announced National Food Security Policy of Pakistan also recognises the potential of these modern technology platforms.
Presently, Pakistan has 30 institutions, and over 500 scientists working towards commercialising various seed traits to help farmers attain better harvests while using energy, water and land more efficiently.Indigenous research across different crops including cotton, corn and wheat highlight the commitment on the part of academia and research institutes to seek scientific solutions related to yield and productivity improvement.
Modern agriculture with its diverse range of solutions, covering digital tools, advanced plant breeding and biotechnology,presents a holistic approach to meet the increasing demand for food through sustainable methods. It has the potential to fulfil the existing needs and prevent further deterioration of natural resources by relying on precise, accurate and efficient farming practices.
The writer is a faculty member at the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Management, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany. She is also a PhD scholar
Published in Daily Times, June 24th 2018.