FAISALABAD
The climate change has raised serious concerns for developing countries and Pakistan is not alone to face social, environmental and economic impacts in this scenario.
This was stated by the speakers at the concluding session of 3-day seminar on climate change, jointly organised by the Agronomy Department in collaboration with Agricultural Model Inter-Comparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP- Pakistan) here on Thursday.
UAF VC Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan was the chief guest while American Scientist Gerritt Hoogenboom and Punjab Agriculture Additional Secretary Ahmad Ali Zafar were the guests of honour.
Dr Iqrar said that the change in climate was closely linked to food security and poverty of a vast majority of the country population. He said that in 60’s green revolution was occurred due to new varieties and fertilisation, in 70’s cotton heat stress varieties brought new heights of productivity, 80’s would be remembered as poultry revolution and subsequently in 90’s Hybrid varieties of Corn made a difference.
Dr Khan hoped that 21st century with climate change scenario would ultimately pave the ways to explore highest productivity potentials for feeding rapidly growing future population.
 “Pakistan’s status as a developing country is dependent mainly on agricultural sector making it highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change”, he maintained.
Ahmad Ali Zafar was of the view that the agricultural and allied activities were the single largest sector, contributing 21 per cent to GDP and employing 44 per cent of workforce.
He urged the scientists to device new agronomic strategies keeping in view climate change and other emerging challenges.
Speaking on the occasion, Gerrit stressed the need for collaborative efforts global warming as well as natural disasters and calamities. He lauded the arrangements and technical approaches adopted during the international seminar and hoped that it would enhance the capacity of participants came from all around the country.
Dr Ashfaq Ahmad said that on farm practices had been undertaken under different climate conditions, special biophysical and socio-economic conditions prevalent in rural areas of the Punjab.
UAF Head Climate Change Cell Dr Ashfaq Ahmad, Department of Agronomy Chairman Dr Ehsan Ullah, KPK Agricultural University Peshawar Agronomy Section Head Dr Bashir Ahmad and Punjab Meteorological Chapter Head Sahib Zad also spoke on the occasion.