Pakistan is standing among the countries ranked at the bottom of per capita water availability index. For which, we have to take the measures including high efficient irrigation system, increased water storage capacity, short duration varieties and to create awareness among the people about rational water usage to fight the situation , said University Agriculture Faisalabad vice chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan

Pakistan is standing among the countries ranked at the bottom of per capita water availability index. For which, we have to take the measures including high efficient irrigation system, increased water storage capacity, short duration varieties and to create awareness among the people about rational water usage to fight the situation , said University Agriculture Faisalabad vice chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan He was meeting German educationists delegation headed by Bonn University's Dr Ing Bernhard Tischbein at Syndicate Room . He said that Pakistan is one of those countries which are bearing water shortage and one of the ways to cope with situation is adopting high efficient irrigation system. He said that farmers are applying five irrigations for wheat crop whereas if we succeed in applying three irrigations, the water saved from reducing the irrigation would be equal to Tarbella and Mangella storage. He also recommended discourage the water intensive crops such as rice. He said only one kilogram of rice production required 4000 kilogram of water which is not suitable in the prevailing situation. If we could not adopt the measures, the water scarcity crisis will deepen that will result in the heavy loss to the agricultural sector. He lamented that the rice is highly water intensive crop. We are exporting the rice of Rs 2 billion at the cost of water costing Rs 10 billion. He demanded a shift in policy to put a focus on water efficient crops. He said we have to make the rational use of water and we are exploiting our resources from our own hands. Dr Ing Bernhard Tischbein from University of Bonn stressed upon need to further cementing academia and research ties between the both institutions. He said that interdisciplinary approaches are need to hour to fight modern challenges including agriculture, climate change and eco system. He said that hi efficient irrigation system would pave a way to reduce the water wastage.