Sindh approved new high-yield wheat seed varieties

SINDH Seed Council recently approved and released two wheat varieties ‘Benazir-2012’ and ‘Hammal’ for cultivation by farmers in the province. During trial production, these varieties gave much higher yield per acre than the ones already in use.

Officials of the Sindh Agriculture Department say that, in the best case scenario, growers using Benazir-2012 can get 3480kg per acre and those who go for Hammal can obtain 2840kg per acre. But these are their potential yields. “Actual average yields may differ depending upon the area under cultivation and a host of other factors such as the use of fertiliser and proper caring,” an official told Dawn.

He said that during trial cultivation the new varieties, however, offered higher average yields in lesser maturity periods thus raising hope for their second sowing within a cropping season. Besides, Benazir-2012 has also shown strong rust-resistance and Hammal can be cultivated even in areas where water supply is low. These qualities make them a better choice for growers.

Seed Council officials say they have also approved for general cultivation a new variety of sugarcane ‘Chandka’ that has a potential yield of eight tonnes per acre against the current national average of six tonnes per acre.

In trial runs, this variety has shown resistance to water logging and it can be cultivated in all ecological zones of Sindh. Besides, its sucrose content goes up to 10.61 per cent, slightly higher than that of other varieties in use.

After recent devolution of agriculture, the role of provinces has become more crucial in farm research though a number of federally-run institutions are still involved in development of new seed varieties. Punjab had launched more than half a dozen new varieties of wheat and rice in 2011 and its provincial seed council is expected to introduce another few varieties in 2013 or

2014, officials reached by Dawn claimed.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan lag behind in development of new food crop varieties but some parts of Balochistan are on the list of the areas across Pakistan where trial cultivation of two Chinese hybrid wheat varieties has been successful. And now the country is going to import seeds of these varieties to start cultivation in the province.

Introducing better seeds is just a part of overall agricultural research and development and in this area Pakistan’s performance is dismal. Director General of National Agricultural Research Centre Dr Muhammad Sharif says that for every $100 of agricultural output, Pakistan’s spending on research is just 21 cents. India’s spending is double that amount.

He says that input of human resources in agricultural research is also very low: agricultural researchers account for only 18 per cent of the PHDs in the country.

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council introduced aerobic rice production technology and fatter rural purse (due to higher support prices), led some entrepreneurs to make limited use of artificial insemination of animals for improved livestock breeding. With aerobic rice production technology, growers can skip transplantation of paddy seedlings and grow rice just as they grow wheat or maize. A couple of progressive growers are reported to have used this technology in selected districts of Sindh and Balochistan.

“We can not only conserve water and need to employ a much lesser number of field workers (in growing aerobic rice) than the numbers we require in traditional paddy cultivation. Besides, by using this technology we can double the per-acre yield,” said one such farmer from Sanghar. Officials of provincial agriculture department say that the trend to grow rice this way may catch up in near future.

Another worthy development in the field of rice research is evolution of new variety of rice at a university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In cultivation in a limited area, the new variety has yielded the longest-ever grains. Agricultural universities in Sindh, KPK and Punjab are making efforts to expedite work on agricultural research but authorities say paucity of funds keep them from aggressively pursuing new projects.

Private sector companies are also not coming up in a big way to focus on agricultural research and development. “Cash-rich companies can afford to join hands with global seed development institutions to see how their research can be helpful in boosting food crops productivity in our country,” says chairman of Agri Forum Pakistan Mr. Ibrahim Mughal.

For example, Pakistan can increase output of sugarcane by a big percentage by adopting and localising the ‘Plene’ technology developed in Brazil. Plene is a technology that simplifies sugar cane planting, using buds that are much smaller in size than normally used in cane planning and these are treated against diseases and infections.

The use of this technology saves the cost of inputs by about 15 per cent and enhances per hectare production by five to 15 tonnes. After using this technology for two years at home, Brazil has started exporting it and South Africa has acquired it to raise its own production of sugarcane.

—Mohiuddin Aazim

Stagnation in Punjab’s agriculture

QUOTING Pakistan Economic Survey, the Pakistan Agriculture Scientist Association has come up with some statistical realities about agriculture stagnation in Punjab.

According to these figures, during the first four years of the incumbent government (2007-2010), the province either kept losing acreage of all major crops, or witnessed productivity (per acre yield) going down.

Holding the Punjab government responsible, the association maintains that precisely because of its failure, food insecurity has increased in the country. The World Bank has put the percentage of ‘malnourished and food insecure’ Pakistanis at a whooping 51 per cent. This compares with 22 per cent five years ago, and shows an increase of 131 per cent.

According to the association’s figures, the area under wheat in Punjab increased by 0.20 per cent during these four years, but overall productivity declined by 9.7 per cent. The per acre yield fell by 9.90 per cent. On the other hand, when compared with Punjab, area under cultivation for wheat in Sindh expanded by 4.75 per cent. Its production increased by 13 per cent and the per acre yield by 8.25 per cent.

Meanwhile, area under cultivation of rice in Punjab grew by 4.07 per cent, with production increasing by 2.31 per cent. But its per acre yield declined by 1.76 per cent. In Sindh, the area under cultivation of rice went up by 9.96 per cent, while production

increased by 12.84 per cent and per acre yield by 2.88 per cent.

For cotton, the area under cultivation in Punjab reduced by 2.34 per cent. Production went down by 11.81 per cent and the per acre yield declined by 9.47 per cent. On the other hand, in Sindh, the area under cultivation for cotton increased by 1.53 per cent, while production went up by 28.57 per cent and the per acre yield by 27.04 per cent.

Sugarcane performed relatively better, mainly because of better seeds. While the area under cultivation for the crop in Punjab reduced by 0.94 per cent, its production increased by 2.48 per cent. The per acre yield for the crop also increased by 3.42 per cent. However, Sindh remained better off, as the area under the crop there increased by 14.49 per cent, and production by 12.98 per cent.

Meanwhile, for maize, area in Punjab declined by 0.94 per cent, but productivity and per acre yield increased by 2.48 per cent and 2.48 per cent respectively. On the other hand, Sindh saw a reduction in the area for the crop by 6.66 per cent, but its productivity still increased by 11.11 per cent and per acre yield went up by 17.77 per cent.

Meanwhile, the area under other crops in Punjab, like gram, lentil, mung, mash, canola and sunflower, declined by 0.85, 55.60, 17.12, 29.46, 45.79 and 16.67 per cent respectively.

Due to declining performance of the sector, as well as increasing cost of inputs and resulting inflation, the cost of food per head in the province has gone beyond Rs3,000 per month. For an average-sized family (5.5 persons), every household needs Rs16,500 per month only for ensuring the provision of basic food. How can people be expected to spend Rs16,500 only on food every month, given that the minimum monthly wage is only Rs8,000? The people would also be neglecting education, health, and social obligations. That is where the province has landed in the last few years, the association maintained.

These five years also saw two international spikes in food prices, which pushed over 900 million people worldwide down the poverty line. It was hard to insulate Pakistan from the consequences. But this should not have been an excuse for the failure to form an effective farming policy. The present Punjab government is certainly guilty on this account.

With changing international innovations (technological and awareness), agriculture has become an almost exact science and industry, which now needs equally precise policies and production standards. It applies to the entire agriculture sector, including all its sub-sectors, like livestock and horticulture.—Ahmad Fraz Khan

Pakistan and US launch project for usage of Modern Technology in Pakistan Agricultural Sector

Daily Times

Staff Report 

Project launched for usage of modern technologies in agri sector

ISLAMABAD: The US Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) launched a new project to expand the use of modern technologies in Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad said that with the strengthening of relations between CIMMYT and PARC, country’s agriculture sector will boost and particularly enhance wheat and maize production during a high level foreign CIMMYT delegation visit to NARC Campus headed by Dr Tom Lumpkin.

The PARC chairman also earmarked site for Establishment of CIMMYT office in Pakistan at NARC Islamabad PARC and the Mexico-based CIMMYT announced the launching of the four-year $30 million Agricultural Innovation Project (AIP) in Islamabad.

The AIP will be implemented in earnest on April 1, and run through March 31, 2017. In this ceremony USAID, Islamabad Mission Director Jack Conlyn, Representative of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research secretary, PARC chairman, CIMMYT Director of Global Wheat, H J Braun, Provincial DGs Agri Research and Extension and their Representatives, VC of Pakistani’s major agri universities, representative of several ongoing USAID projects, USAID Michael Wyzan, Alan Davis Director of EGA at Islamabad and many other eminent Pakistani scientists were present.

The project will also include expertise from sub-awardees International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), World Vegetable Centre (AVRDC), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), University of California (UC), David and PARC.

Dr Ahmad said that AIP’s overall objective is to promote economic growth by brining more farms, and more acres, under improved technologies and management practices and to increase the productivity and production value of livestock, horticulture, and cereals. The project will foster the creation of a demand-driven, result-oriented agricultural research community and enhance linkages between Pakistan’s agricultural research community, the global community or scientists and Pakistani private sector and civil society.

He further said that the CIMMYT will be the primary implementing partner and prime grantee, managing and taking responsibility for the overall program and overseeing the cereal systems portfolio. The ILRI will manage and support the livestock portfolio, while AVDRC will play a similar role in annual horticulture, IRRI will do for rice, and UC-Davis will have responsibility for human resources development and perennial horticulture. Importantly PARC will be oversee the competitive grants component along with providing leadership in the formation of organization similar to the Punjab Agricultural Research Board in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan.

“Boosting Pakistan’s economy is one of our top assistance priorities. That’s why this project will work to modernize agricultural practices to increase the production and quality of livestock and horticultural goods. This in turn will enhance economic development in the country,” said USAID Country Director Jonathan M Conly at the launch of the project. Innovative technologies, introduced in Pakistan with support from the US Government, spurred the Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s. The adoption of improved rice and wheat varieties, combined with strategic policies and investments, led to a doubling of yields and output in those two decades. With investment in research, Pakistan transformed its agricultural sector into a driver for economic growth.

Currently, Pakistan’s agricultural sector is growing at a much slower pace than other sectors. “Pakistan’s agricultural productivity has fallen behind comparable countries with similar agro-ecologies,” said CIMMYT Director General Thomas Lumpkin. “There is a tremendous potential for growth, but we must act now.”

Promoting economic growth is one of the many ways that the United States is helping to create a brighter future for the people of Pakistan. The United States funds large-scale energy projects that will provide electricity to two million households by the end of 2013. The US has rebuilt and renovated 800 schools and has provided scholarships to 12,000 students to attend universities in Pakistan.

And the US is helping to create jobs and increase incomes with programmes that boost agricultural output, build roads, and help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

Small dams to irrigate 2,688 acres of land in Waziristan

The two small dams constructed at cost of Rs 857.65 million, will irrigate more than 2,688 acres cultivable lands in South and North Waziristan agencies. 

A sum of Rs 553.681million was spent on construction of Dandy small irrigation dam located about six kilometer away from Miran Shah North Waziristan Agency, which will be irrigated agriculture lands of around 2000 acres, with total storage capacity of water 2907 acre-feet. The total catchments areas of the dam is around 67.979 square miles, height 101 feet and length 1764 feet. 

Another small irrigation dam, "Dargai Pal" constructed at cost of Rs 305 million 24kilometer away from East of Wana South Waziristan agency, will be irrigated cultivable lands of around 688 acres, with actual storage capacity of water 2178 acre feet. The dam was constructed at height of 84 feet, under catchments areas of 24.719 square miles, covered a length of around 764 feet, a senior official at the Fata-Development Authority, told Business Recorder. 

The official further said that the construction of seven small irrigation dams have been initiated in different tribal agencies, out of which tenders for five dams already been awarded, and construction work in progress. A sum of Rs79318million, estimated for construction of seven dams, would irrigate cultivable lands around 2100 acres in Fata. While, tenders have also been awarded, for construction rest of two small dams, for which Rs 839.37 million estimated, would also irrigate agriculture lands of around 3500 acres. 

According to document of Fata-DA said that a sum of Rs69.070million estimated for construction of Zao Dam seven kilometres south of Milward Fort in Khyber Agency, which will irrigate 250 acres land, with total water storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and catchments areas of around 5.793 square miles, length 270 feet, and height 91 feet. The construction work on the scheme in progress would be completed in June, 2013. 

Under the ongoing schemes, another small dam, Kand about 20 kilometres away from Mir Ali Town, North Waziristan Agency, would be constructed at cost Rs1 78.942million, for irrigation of 716 acres lands, with total water storage capacity of 3375 acres feet, and catchments areas of 20.70 square miles, and height 75 feet and length 640 feet. The construction work on the project in progress would be completed by June, 2013. 

A sum of Rs145.280million estimated for construction of Parwara Small Dam, about 15 kilometres away from South of Darazanda, Frontier Region D I Khan, would irrigate around 243 acres lands, with total water storage capacity of 2325 acre feet, and catchments areas of 10.20 square miles, height 72 feet and length 672, completed by December last year, according document of FATA-DA. 

The Moto Sha Small Dam, about 25 Kilometres away from South of Ekka Ghund, Mohmand Agency, another scheme would be completed at estimated cost of Rs191.60million for irrigation of 627 acres land, with total water storage capacity of 1146 acre-feet, and catchments area around 10.042 square miles, height 101.38 feet, and length 377.38 feet. The construction work on the scheme would be completed by August 2014. 

According to the document, a sum of Rs189.23million estimated for construction of Sheen Kach Small Dam, 32 kilometres away from East of Tank, Frontier Region Tank for irrigation of 260 acres cultivable lands, with total water storage capacity of around 12.00 square miles, height 69 feet and length 656 feet, would be completed by February, 2014. 

The Raghagan Small Dam about 13 kilometres East of Khar town, Bajuar Agency, would be constructed at cost of Rs195.983million for irrigation of around 3,500 acres land, with total water storage capacity of 1252 acre-feet, height 52 feet and length 200 feet. The project would be completed by December 2014. 

The Fata-DA document revealed that the authority has planned to initiate a scheme for supply of water to Mohmand Agency, for which an Rs449million has so far allocated for construction of small dam Gandao about 03 kilometres south-east of Ghalani, Mohmand agency, with total water storage capacity of around 810 acre feet, height 105 feet and length 250 feet. The scheme would be benefited for provision of potable drinking water to around 22,000 and flood control, would be completed by December 2014. 

"We had identified more than 40 small dams in different tribal agencies, out of which construction work on two dams so far completed, said Muhammad Naseem Golra, General Manager, (Technical), Fata Development Authority. He further informed that the authority had initiated construction work on more than seven dams, out of which feasibility of two dams recently approved by federal government. A total of Rs8240million schemes has so far executed by authority, including small irrigation dams, social and skilled development projects in the Fata, Golra informed. 

Golra said the feasibility studies of nine dams have so far completed, in progress of physical work. According to which, he said that authority had worked out on around 20 small schemes, while work on number of feasibility studies in process. "We had set a target to irrigate more than 346000 barren lands in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, by construction of several small dams. We had also identified more than 120 sites for construction of dam in tribal region", Golara claimed. 

He informed that authority had also prepared a feasibility of two small dam, including GHAO Tangi Small Dam, located about six kilometer away from North-West of village of Gul Kuch, South Waziristan Agency, and Baz Ali Small Dam about 31 kilometer away from South of Sadda Town, Kurram Ageny, while Rs798million and Rs427million estimated for construction of the scheme, which was yet to be approved by the CDWP. The scheme would irrigate around 3114 acres lands, with total water storage capacity of around 15,062 acre-feet. 

Golra informed the authority has initiated feasibility studies of more than nine dams, including Musa Dara Dam Frontier Region, Peshawar, Jalandar Kurram Agency, Larzan Dam, FR Tank, Shakai Dam, South Waziristan Agency, Warmola Dam, FR Lakki, Zakar Khel Dam North-Waziristan Agency, Jaji Dam, Kurram Agency, Walmai Dam, North-Waziristan Agency, and Sarobi Dam, North-Waziristan Agency. 

Copyright Business Recorder, 

Rain would improve rabi crop (urdu)

Kitchen gardening: PAD begins supply of vegetable seeds

The Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has initiated supply of packets of different vegetables seeds to the masses under the programme of promotion of 'kitchen gardening' in the province. 

Per capita daily use of 280 grams of vegetables help maintaining the health of human being but unfortunately in Pakistan usage of vegetable is at half of the required standard. 

This was disclosed by the Fruit and Vegetable Development Project Director, Muhammad Asif Khan while inaugurating a one-day workshop on training being imparted to master trainers under the kitchen gardening programme on Saturday. He said promotion of kitchen gardening is essential to resolve the issues of public health and improving the lives of the masses. He threw light on importance of sowing vegetable at domestic level and its economic and health benefits. He said vegetables grown at home are free of any sort of poison of fertiliser while it also helps cutting the domestic budget. 

Head of Institute of Vegetable Research Faisalabad, Dr Shahid Niaz Nazim claimed that his institute was working hard to create awareness amongst the masses about kitchen gardening and its production technology. He said both print and electronic media is being used for this purpose. 

He said that empty vessels, cartons, plastic bags and pots could be used for growing vegetables at home. He said vegetables can be sown on roofs of the house too. Other experts expressed views on preparation of land, irrigation, use of nutrients and steps to tackle pests. 

CLCV major threat to Pakistan's cotton crop: SBP

Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) is a major threat to Pakistan's cotton crop along with other sucking pests, as no cotton variety is available resistant against these diseases. 

"Studies on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton have acknowledged that farmers in Pakistan are not making the most of Bt cotton because the Bt varieties were developed by various private sector plant breeders by transferring Bt trait to locally developed cotton varieties and these varieties are distributed without a formal regulatory framework which raises several concerns about seed quality" the State Bank of Pakistan said in its recent report. 

Unavailability of resistant cotton variety is major reason of low cotton yield and despite introduction of (Bt) cotton. CLCV is still a major threat to cotton crop along with meal -bug, jassid and white-fly as currently no resistant cotton variety is available against these diseases. 

"There is also no resistance management plan and farmers are encouraged to maintain a refuge area with conventional cotton varieties alongside Bt cotton crop so that resistance in pests may not rekindle over a period of time", the report said. 

The SBP said that controlling these pests is important since cotton yields in Pakistan are very low compared to other countries like China, Brazil and Turkey, despite being fourth largest cotton producer in the world. Although, higher intensity of insects and pests attacks and poor quality of seeds are the key reasons for low yields, it can be improved with introduction of pest resistive seeds, which likely to have substantial impact on cotton production. 

The use of Bt cotton has an immediate bearing on farmers as it reduces expense on pesticides and crops gain resistance against the incidence of boll worm, but seeds are costlier and require more water and urea. Bt cotton has been developed through the transfer of a gene, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), from a soil bacterium. This gene enhances crop resistance against three boll worms, spotted, pink, and American boll worm. 

The government of Pakistan introduced genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds from 2010 kharif season. Accordingly, certified seeds for 10 varieties of Bt cotton and one hybrid variety were released. Although the work on developing GM seeds started in 1997, delays in commercial use of certified GM seeds resulted in unregulated adoption of different varieties of Bt cotton as early as the year 2000, the SBP report said.