1st International Conference on “Biodiversity of Arid Zone” at the sub campus of Sindh Agricultural University, Umerkot concludes with several recommendations
Umerkot Sindh
The experts have demanded a complete ban on hunting to conserve the population of deer, Hog deer, partridge, rabbit and antelope in Thar and suggested that Avian Research Center may be established where research remedies for diseases could be found in peacocks and other birds of Thar.
The experts during concluding session of the two-day 1st International Conference on “Biodiversity of Arid Zone” at the sub campus of Sindh Agricultural University, Umerkot, recommended drought-tolerant crops for the sustainable development of Thar and producing climate tolerant new crop seeds. They emphasized establishment of a research center in Thar to save bird species.
The international conference was conducted by the SAU Sub Campus of the SAU at its new campus in Umerkot, for the development of the desert areas of Sindh, where several national and international experts presented their research papers and participated in the discussion session.
Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor SAU Tandojam, Dr. Jan Muhammad Marri, PVC SAU Sub Campus Umerkot, Dr. Sarosh Lodhi, Vice Chancellor NED University Karachi, Dr. Bekharam Devrajani, former Vice Chancellor of Liaquat Medical University Jamshoro, Dr. Aslam Uqaili former Vice Chancellor Mehran Engineering University Jamshoro, writer Prof. Noor Muhammad Jhinjhi, Dr. Zakir Dahri, Director General Pakistan Agriculture Research Council and other experts presided over the different sessions and approximately 170 abstracts were presented for conference proceedings. As per conference themes, 2 plenary sessions and 6 panel talks were held apart from technical sessions.
After different sessions and presentation of papers, the recommendation were presented.
The experts said that the livelihood of 35%of people of Thar depends on Agriculture and 36% on Livestock.
Experts said that 30% Camels of Sindh are kept by people of Thar, therefore, the academies, public and private research organizations and food industries may jointly take efforts on the increasing productivity of camels. In the same way the commercialization of camel milk and making byproducts from camel milk for economic prosperity of herd-men was emphasized.
They urge that Cheese making from goat milk needs promotion; export of organic chees made from goat milk is recommended, and as in Tharparkar the goat milk is 100 % organic and may catch the international market for earning huge foreign exchange.
The experts emphasized that the drought resistant crop varieties, and said that medicinal plants available in Tharparkar to make further detailed research to find out the remedies for new diseases like lumpy skin disease in livestock, chickunguniya and dengue fever in humans.
Preservation of culture, agriculture and heritage was also recommended in the form of museums at various central cities of Tharparkar like Umarkot, Mithi, Nau Kot etc.
They said that seed needs a drop of water to germinate therefore drip irrigation – sprinkler and circular irrigation on solar system is highly recommended. Furthermore, depth wise new under-ground fresh water resources shall be identified and explored.
Experts said that for the uplift of agriculture in Arid Zone all the stakeholders like HEC, Islamabad, Sindh HEC, FAO-United Nations, AZRC-PARC, Hamdard University Karachi, Bayyer, SPO, SAMMI, Civil Society Support Program, Umerkot Citizen Forum Fatima Fertilizer, Aware, SIAPEP, Agricultural Research, the Livestock Department Government of Sindh have already set an example of their support in this cause.
Syed Sardar Shah, Minister for Education also attended the ceremony and visited the different stalls. (PR)
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