Due to low rainfall and changing climatic conditions, the entire province of Sindh has turned into an arid zone
Tandojam, Sindh
The experts have urged the concerned authorities for urgent climate action, as according to them the agriculture in Sindh is at great risk.
They expressed these views addressing a Farmers’ Field Day at Goth Kamal Buriro, organized under a joint initiative of SAU and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations titled Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management, on Thursday.
Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal expressed deep concern over the widening gap between Pakistan’s growing population and its agricultural output. Farmers must now take effective measures themselves to protect their crops.
He stated that due to low rainfall and changing climatic conditions, the entire province of Sindh has turned into an arid zone. If the reduction in river water is not addressed, the climate impacts will further deteriorate the region’s agriculture, which could severely affect Sindh’s economic stability.
Dr. Siyal noted that average annual temperatures in Sindh have risen by 1.5 to 2°C in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for farmers to adopt climate-resilient, science-based agricultural practices.
Dr. Ghulam Murtaza Jamro, the project’s focal person from SAU, stated that Sindh has been the most climate-affected province in Pakistan since 2010, while Pakistan itself has moved from seventh to first on the global index of countries most vulnerable to climate change. He pointed out that districts like Badin, Sanghar, and Umerkot are particularly hard-hit. “Agriculture is now the most exposed sector, and the responsibility lies with scientists and institutions to equip farmers with knowledge and tools that ensure resilience and sustainability,” he added.
Dr. Ghulam Murtaza Arain, Agronomist for the FAO-GCF (Green Climate Fund) project, noted that winters are growing shorter while summers are becoming more extreme. He emphasized that through collaboration with SAU and the provincial agriculture departments, Farmer Field Schools (FFS) have been launched across Sindh to train thousands of farmers in climate-resilient practices. These include efficient irrigation systems, soil fertility management, sustainable cropping patterns, seed preservation, and strategies to reduce post-harvest losses. He said that these interventions are already making a tangible difference across the region’s farming communities.
The event also featured technical inputs from several experts, including Dr. Zahoor Ahmed Soomro, Dr. Saleem Masih Bhatti, Dr. Qamaruddin Jogi, Dr. Fahad Nazir Khoso, Dr. Siddique Lashari, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Ghulam Hussain Wagan, and others. They collectively underscored the critical importance of applying science and innovation to help farmers build resilience in the face of mounting climate stress.
Later, a Farmers’ Field Day was also organized at the farm of grower Booto Mal in Goth Ajeeto Mal, where experts also delivered speeches. (PR)
Read: Climate Change and its Impact on Gender in Rural areas of Sindh
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