Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Friday, September 18, 2020

COVID-19 and Dietary Supplements: Balancing Rapid Supply & Demand Shifts Long-Term

 

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Sunday, September 13, 2020

ENVIRONMENTAL_IMPACT_ON_RICE_CROP_IN_SINDH

 


PARTICULARS

Pages No…

Introduction

2

Rice In Asia

5

Rice Production In Pakistan

7

Impact of Temperature on Growth on Rice

9

Impact of Temperature on Sindh

10

Annual Temperature Projection for Next 20 Years In Sindh

13

Impact of Rainfall on Rice

14

Impact of Rainfall on Rice in Sindh

14

Future Precipitation Change in Sindh Province

15

Challenges for Rice Crop

17

Climate Impact on Rice Crop In Sindh

18

Sowing Period Of Major Crops

19

Rice Production and Growth Rate

20

Area and Production of Rice Crop in Pakistan

21

Area of Rice Crop in Pakistan

21

Area of Rice Crop in Sindh

22

Province-wise area and Production of Rice Crop

22

Province-wise Production of Rice Crop

23

District-wise area and Production of Rice Crop

23-25

AGR-Ecological Zone

26

Major Challenges

27

World Production and Trade

28

Economic Importance of Rice for Pakistan

28

Government Environmental & Conservation of Pakistan

31

Environmental Protection NGOs of Pakistan

33

Objectives

36

Review Of  Literature

36

Methodology

36

Result

36

Suggestion

36

References

38

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON RICE CROP IN SINDH PAKISTAN

 

INTRODUCTION:

 Impact of Environmental Change on Rice Production R ice is an essential component of the diet and the most important staple food crop of about 3.23 billion people of the world’s population especially in Asia. More than 90% of the world’s rice is grown and consumed in Asia, where 60% of the world’s population lives. It has important implications for food security because, among other things, it makes up approximately one third of the caloric intake of third world populations. Rice trade (which is dominated by Asian countries) is modest only 17 percent of the global trade of other cereals because these countries aim to be self-sufficient in future. Over 150 million hectares of rice is planted annually, covering around 10% of the world’s arable land. With the world population estimated to increase from 6.2 billion in the year 2000 to about 8.2 billion in the year 2030, the global rice demand will rise to about 765 million tons, or 533 million tons of milled rice. Yet, the challenge for rice production is twofold: coping with population growth while also facing climate change. Climate is an important factor for agricultural productivity. It plays a key role in the production of crops. From the last few years a new term named “Climate Change” is emerging which is hanging all over the world. It is an enormous challenge for societies worldwide. It is caused by the release of ‘greenhouse’ gases into the atmosphere. These gases accumulate in the atmosphere, which result in global warming. Many plant species are temperature sensitive; predicted increases in global temperatures will have adverse effects on our environment and put increasing stress on agriculture. Large number of people in the world still without access to adequate food, ensuring global food security continues to be a big challenge. Unforeseen changes associated with global warming temperature, carbon dioxide and rainfall are expected to influence rice production. The immediate impacts of climate change on rice production systems and food security will be felt in the form of adverse effects of extreme weather changes on rice production. Studies have shown that increase temperature, due to climate change, adversely affects rice crop physiology ultimately decreasing crop yields and grain quality. A comprehensive simulation research revealed that past climate change since 1960s decreased rice yield by 12.4%, but with largest contribution coming from lowering radiation. Statistical analysis between climate variables and observed yield also demonstrated positive and negative yield response in differ- e n t r e g i o ns. Changes in mean temperatures, in- creasing weather variability and sea level rising predicted less but possibly even more significant effect on rice production. As carbon dioxide is an essential component in photosynthesis, increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is expected to increases plant growth and consequently rice yields. Uncertainty associated particularly in projected precipitation spatial and temporal * Authors belong to the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. ‘Pakistan worst affected by climate change’ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk, January 26,2014 Chinese rice production increase substantially under climate change due to technology progress as changes of rice area from south to North regions plays significant roles in past yield promotion.

SOURCE: ISSN:2311-3804 March, 2014 Volume 6-Issue 1

Climate change is already beginning to transform life on Earth. Around the globe, seasons are shifting, temperatures are climbing and sea levels are rising. And meanwhile, our planet must still supply us – and all living things – with air, water, food and safe places to live. If we don't act now, climate change will rapidly alter the lands and waters we all depend upon for survival, leaving our children and grandchildren with a very different world. The economy of Pakistan is primarily agrarian. The production system which is predominantly irrigation uses 97 percent of the available river water and provides over 90 percent of the agricultural produce. The productive resources of land and water, which provide a base for food production, are limited rather dwindling due to, inter alia, the changing climate. Climate change is exerting pressure on these resources both directly (e.g. through increased glacier melt, increased evapotranspiration, increased land degradation) and indirectly (e.g. via enhancing processes such as denitrification leading to emission of Greenhouse Gases and unavailability of plant nutrients and increasing crop water requirements). Not only is the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events such as floods, droughts and cyclones on the increase, there are serious consequences for standing crops, apart from immeasurable damage to life and property.

Oak trees 215x143Moose in Alaska 215x143

Higher TemperaturesChanging Landscapes

Polar bears 215x143New York Skyline 215x143

Wildlife at RiskRising Seas

Land erosion 215x143Hurricane Katrina satellite 215x143

Increased Risk of Drought, Fire and FloodsStronger Storms and Increased Storm Damage

Waterfront sewage 215x143Fisherman from the Kokhanok Village 215x143

More Heat-Related Illness and DiseaseEconomic Losses

SOURCE: (IRRI-- INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

 

January 2011: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has released its January to March edition of Rice Today, which features articles documenting the relationship between climate change impacts and rice production.

 

In "Rice for Future Generations," IRRI describes the Third International Rice Conference, held from 8-12 November in Hanoi, Viet Nam, which discussed climate change and plant disease, and the potential role of agriculture in combating climate change. In "Asia Pushes for Sustainable Food Security," the authors outline the IRRI task force report on "Never an Empty Bowl: Sustaining Food Security in Asia," which recommends building resilience to climate change impacts through raising and sustaining the productivity of rice farmers. The publication also includes an article on the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), which presents a single blueprint for global rice research to contribute to local, national and regional development challenges, including climate change. "Volatile Markets, Cautious Traders" notes that climate change, extreme weather events and new financial risk elements dominated discussions on the global rice market at the Rice Traders' second World Rice Conference. This and other articles in the issue note that climate change is likely to continue to place pressure on the supply/demand imbalance. IRRI is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

 

Rice is also the most important crop to millions of small farmers who grow it on millions of hectares throughout the region, and to the many landless workers who derive income from working on these farms. In the future, it is imperative that rice production continue to grow at least as rapidly as the population, if not faster. Rice research that develops new technologies for all farmers has a key role to play in meeting this need and contributing to global efforts directed at poverty alleviation.

 

Agricultural population densities on Asia’s rice producing lands are among the highest in the world and continue to increase at a remarkable rate. Rapid population growth puts increasing pressure on the already strained food-producing resources. The aggregate population of the less developed countries grew from 2.3 billion in 1965 to 4.4 billion in 1995. Asia accounted for 60% of the global population, about 92% of the world’s rice production, and 90% of global rice consumption. Even with rice providing 35–80% of the total calories consumed in Asia and with a slowing of growth in total rice area, rice production more than kept up with demand in 2000. The largest producing countries—China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand —together account for more than three quarters of world rice production.

Rice is now cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of world. (Map showing the distribution of rice around the world in green

RICE IN ASIA:

Rice is a major food crop for the people of the world in general and Asians in particular; nearly 90% of the world's rice is produced and consumed in this region (Table 1.1). Furthermore, rice is a staple food for nearly 2.4 billion people in Asia, and except for Pakistan and some parts of India and China, rice provides two thirds of the calories for most Asians with rice-based diets.

Following the introduction of IR-8 rice during the 1960s, rice production in Asia grew at an unprecedented annual rate of 3.0% during 1967-85. Similar growth of world rice production also occurred during this period. For Asia, the output growth rate exceeded the population growth rate, which was about 2.14% (Tables 1.2 and 1.3).

During the post-green revolution period, most growth in rice production was due to yield increases brought about by the introduction of new seed and fertilizer technology. The contribution of area increases to growth of output was small and declined over time (Figure 1.1). However, the growth rate in rice production has declined sharply from about 3% during the period 1967-85, to 1.7% during 1985-95 due primarily to a decline in the growth rate of rice yields, from 2.32% per annum during 1967-85 to 1.35% during 1985-95. A decline in growth rates of both output and yield has taken place in all the major rice producing countries in Asia except in India, where growth rates of both output and yield of rice rose significantly during 1985-95, (Tables 1.2 and 1.3 and Figure 1.1) because of the spread of new seed and fertilizer technology to the rainfed eastern regions where improved water management and irrigation facilities are being introduced.

The rapid growth in rice output during 1967-85 had positive effects. Firstly, it resulted in a decline in the real price of rice over the period, thereby benefiting a large percentage of the rural and urban poor people living in South and South East Asia (Figure 1.2). Secondly, the poor benefited because the yield increases led to increases in the incomes of numerous small and marginal farmers in that region who form a major proportion of the poor. However, the success achieved caused a general complacency about food security, and led to less investment in irrigation, agricultural research and extension, and other rural infrastructure that contributed to increased rice production.

The problems increased during the 1990s because of economic liberalization and tight fiscal policies, at both global and national levels. Agricultural research and investment commitments by multilateral agencies, already reduced during the 1980s, became even smaller. At the same time, there were indications of a further decline in the growth rate of yield increase, and stagnation of the highest yield levels attained in high-output irrigated rice, the predominant source of rice output. Despite the increasing use of fertilizers and other inputs, further increases in yields were becoming more difficult to achieve and more costly in terms of inputs, so that total factor productivity was tending to decline.

Table 1.1 Production, Import, and Export of Rice during the Triennium Ending 1995 (million tons)

Country/Continent

Production

Export

Import

Net Trade

Consumption

Self-Sufficiency Ratio (%)

ASIA

329.4

12.6

9.1

3.4

326

101

South Asia

India

80.9

2.0

0.1

1.9

79

102

Bangladesh

17.5

0.5

-0.5

18

97

Pakistan

3.8

1.3

0.0

1.3

2

152

Sri Lanka

1.5

0.1

-0.1

2

94

China

121.1

1.1

1.0

0.1

121

100

East Asia

 

 

Indonesia

31.8

0.2

1.3

-1.1

33

97

Vietnam

16.4

2.1

2.1

14

115

Thailand

13.5

5.1

5.1

8

161

Myanmar

12.1

0.0

0.4

-0.4

12

97

Japan

8.5

0.1

0.9

-0.7

9

92

Philippines

7.0

0.2

-0.2

7

98

Korea, Rep. of

4.4

0.0

0.0

4

100

Korea, DPR

2.0

0.0

0.0

2

100

AFRICA

9.2

0.3

3.7

-3.4

13

73

 

 

North Africa

3.0

0.2

-0.2

3

94

Egypt

3.0

0.2

0.0

0.2

3

108

Sub-Saharan Africa

6.1

3.5

-3.5

10

64

Western Africa

3.5

0.0

3

100

Central + Eastern & Southern Africa

2.6

0.0

3

100

CENTRAL AMERICA

1.2

0.0

1.2

-1.2

2

49

SOUTH AMERICA

12.0

1.1

1.3

-0.2

12

98

Brazil

7.0

0.9

-0.9

8

89

NORTH AMERICA

5.3

2.8

0.4

2.4

3

182

United States

5.3

2.8

2.8

2

214

EUROPE

1.4

0.3

1.1

-0.8

2

64

CIS

1.0

0.0

0.3

-0.3

1

76

OCEANIA (Australia)

0.7

0.5

0.3

0.2

0

148

WORLD

360.2

17.6

17.4

0.1

360

100

Asia

329.4

12.6

9.1

3.4

326

101

Rest of the World

30.9

5.0

8.3

-3.3

33

-1.0

Developing Countries

343.3

13.8

14.1

-0.3

344

100

Developed Countries

17.0

3.8

3.3

0.5

17

103

Source: FAO Food Outlook. Various Issues

 

Rice production in Pakistan holds an extremely important position in agriculture and the national economy. Pakistan is the world's fourth largest producer of rice, after China, India and Indonesia.[1] Each year, it produces an average of 6 million tonnes and together with the rest of the South Asia, the country is responsible for supplying 30% of the world's paddy rice output.[2] Most of these crops are grown in the fertile Sindh and Punjab region with millions of farmers relying on rice cultivation as their major source of employment. Among the most famous varieties grown in Pakistan include the Basmati, known for its flavor and quality.

RICE ZONES:


In Pakistan rice is grown under diverse climatic, hydrological and edaphic conditions and is divided into 4 distinct agro ecological zones. In most of the cases critical problems in rice production and protection are specific to a particular zone. Production technology package is developed keeping in view the distinct agro ecological conditions in each zones. Brief description of each zone is as follows:

Zone-1: It consists of northern mountainous areas of the country and irrigated rice is grown either in flat valleys or terraced valley-sides. The climate is sub-humid monsoon with 750 to 1000 mm average rainfallmostly concentrated in summer. Cold damage to rice crop due to cool air temperature and cold irrigation water are major problems. The water temperature seldom exceeds 18oC in water channels. Low temperature stress causes leaf yellowing, stunting in the seedling in early vegetative stages, delayed heading and sterility in the reproduction stage. The modern high yielding rice varieties and the fine Basmati types are not successfully grown in these areas. Berseem, wheat, barley onion are grown in rotation with rice.

Zone-2: It lies in the broad strip of land between rivers Ravi and Chenab where both canal and sub-soil water are used for irrigation. The climate is sub-humid, sub-tropical type with 400 to 700 mm of rainfall mostly in July-August. Rice growing season is fairly long and suitable for cultivating fine aromatic as well as some IRRI varieties. The "Kalar" tract which is abode of the world famous Basmati rice is located in this zone. Wheat, berseem, sunflower, watermelons are grown in rotation with rice.

Zone-3: It consists of the large tract of land on the west bank of river Indus. It has an arid sub-tropical climate with 100 mm of average rainfall and maximum temperature higher than zone 1 and 2. The impeded drainage and excessive water application to rice has resulted in high water table. The long, extremely hot summers are well suited to growing coarse rice varieties. Gram, wheat/barley, oilseed, lathyrus, sarsoon, pulses, coriander and berseem/alfa are grown as rice based cropping system.

Zone-4: It is the Indus delta which consists of vast spill flats and basins; the latter are mostly irrigated. The climate is arid tropical marine with no marked season and is highly suited to coarse varieties. Wheat, berseem and pulses are grown in rotation with rice.

Recommendation for Enhancing Production:

To meet the ever growing domestic needs of food and enhance exports and to achieve sustainability and stability of rice production the following research areas would receive priority

(a) Varietal Improvement

A quantum jump in rice production was achieved in sixties by large scale adoption of high yielding semi-dwarf varieties. Since the development of this plant type, there is marginal increase in rice production. To achieve another quantum jump in rice production, following varietal improvement strategies are being proposed.

(i) Modification of plant architecture.

(ii) Development of hybrid rice technology.

(iii) Wide-hybridization.

(b) Soil and Nutrient Management

In order to develop appropriate management practices, sustain soil fertility and high yields, it is vital to understand the kinetics, transformation and interaction of essential nutrients in rice and other crops grown in rice based cropping systems. Inclusion of legumes in the rice based systems would be one of the options to sustain soil fertility. There is also need to increase nutrient use efficiency, minimize fertilizer losses and increase the use of bio fertilizers.

 

IMPACT OF TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH OF THE RICE:

Spikelet sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.) induced by high temperatures is a major concern given global warming predictions. We studied differences among eight rice cultivars in spikelet fertility at five different temperature levels in temperature gradient chamber (TGC) experiments. Six japonica and two indica cultivars were exposed to high-temperature gradients in TGCs during the 2005 flowering season. Spikelet sterility increased with temperature in TGCs and differed among cultivars because of both variations in temperature tolerance and timing of heading. The correlation between spikelet fertility of individual panicles and both air temperature and panicle temperature during flowering was analyzed to compare tolerances among cultivars. The temperature (T75) at which spikelet fertility was 75 % of maximum ranged from 34 to 39 °C air temperature and differed significantly among cultivars. Indica varieties had higher T75values than japonica varieties. The T75 values based on panicle temperature also differed among cultivars, but the difference between indica and japonica varieties were less significant. We concluded that the higher temperature tolerances of indica cultivars in our experiments could be attributed to lower spikelet temperatures, and cultivars with similar spikelet temperatures still had different heat tolerances due to differences in pollination ability.How temperature affects early growth, tillering, and spikelet number of the rice plant in artificially-lighted growth rooms. At early growth stages, growth rate increased as temperature rose from 22 to 31°C. During early stages, when growth largely depended on the seed reserve, the temperature quotient for growth rate was about 2. The effects of temperature on growth rate decreased with time. Tillering was more vigorous at high temperatures than at low temperatures. Spikelet number per panicle increased with decreasing temperatures.

 

SOURCE: (Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science

Volume 199, Issue 6, pages 416–423, December 2013)

 

SOURCE: (Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science

Volume 199, Issue 6, pages 416–423, December 2013)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPACT OF TEMPERATURE IN SINDH:

 

 

With the mercury touching 53.5 °C (128.3 °F) on May 26, 2010, Mohenjo Daro in Sindh has had the highest temperature ever in Asia and fourth highest temperature ever in the world. Temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) were recorded in 12 Pakistani cities in the summer of 2010.

Crop yields and sowing and harvesting patterns may undergo striking changes in 20 to 30 years owing to rise in average temperatures and fall in fresh water reserves, Dr Pervaiz Amir, an agriculture and environment expert, told The Express Tribune. He was asked to access the likely impact of climate change on Pakistan in the near future.

The impact, he said, will vary across regions. In Punjab and Sindh, droughts will be more intense and yield of summer crops as well as fruits and vegetables may be substantially lower with rise in temperature levels.

In Northern Areas (Swat, Malakand, Gilgit, Hunza and parts of AJK), wheat, maize and rice yields will increase due to longer and hotter summer seasons.

Dr Amir said a likely repeat of 1998-2001 droughts in Balochistan over the coming years will take a heavy toll on crops, fruits and livestock production.

Pakistan has been included among countries likely to be most affected by climate change in Global Climate Risk Index 2012, a report by German Watch, a non-governmental organisation. The report released prior to the Durban climate change conference in 2011 examined the effect of extreme weather events worldwide from 1991-2010.

According to former environment minister Malik Amin Aslam, Pakistan stands to lose between $6 billion and $14 billion per annum if no measures are taken to deal with natural catastrophes triggered by climate change. The projection is based on the $9billion losses incurred during the 2010 summer floods.

Dr Amir believes the early impact of climate change is already apparent during summer months. “Lahore, Sargodha Mianwali, Larkana and Nurpur Thal were among 28 cities in the world that experienced record high temperatures in 2010,” he said.

With the mercury touching 53.5 °C (128.3 °F) on May 26, 2010, Mohenjo Daro in Sindh has had the highest temperature ever in Asia and fourth highest temperature ever in the world. Temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) were recorded in 12 Pakistani cities in the summer of 2010.

Dr Amir warned that if no measures are taken to check carbon dioxide emissions, average temperatures in Pakistan will likely rise by 4°C to 6°C by the end of the century. The increase in average temperature for the globe will be around 2°C.

Water-intensive crops like sugarcane and cotton will be the worst affected by the climate change.

According to a World Bank study, as much as 30 per cent of the country’s current water reserves will deplete in 20 years. “The cost of production of these crops will surge if we do not formulate policies and guidelines on use of water for irrigation,” he adds.

At present, the only method in place to ration irrigation water is by increasing electricity tariffs and diesel prices during periods of drought.

Dr Amir predicts water shortage will take a toll on about 20 to 25 per cent of cultivable land in the Punjab and Sindh and render it unfit for agriculture.

This, he says, may require the population to reduce dependence on wheat and shift to use of coarse grains such as barley, sorghum, millets, oats and coarse rice. He says more farmers may shift from production of staples to cash crops.

Animal and crop diseases

Dr Amir said climate change will lead to changes in growth cycles of various microbes, pests, insects and fungi. These changes may make it difficult to maintain current yield levels in cross-pollinated crops (maize) and several fruits and fodders. The production of honey may also be affected as bees are likely to migrate to higher altitudes.

The environment expert said locust and stem rust will cause greater damage to crops with rise in temperature and humidity levels. He feared crop yields might go down by as much as 50 per cent owing to outbreak of these diseases in the Punjab and Sindh. He says changes in nitrogen-fixing bacteria may affect soil fertility. The incidence of dengue and Congo fevers and Hepatitis C will go up due to variations in temperature.

Glaciers

Dr Amir said glaciers should be watched very carefully for sudden and drastic changes. Melting of glaciers, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) and changes in in-flow of water in rivers will all impact population, especially those settled along river banks. He said new research and modeling techniques could help predict the impact of such activities.

He said as much as 40 per cent of the country’s glaciers may melt by the end of the century.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has estimated significant melting activity in 50 and 75 per cent of glaciers in Asia and 80 per cent in the world, over this period.

Along with China, Nepal and India, Pakistan is ranked among the top five countries with potentially dangerous glaciers in a 2010 report by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Pakistan has had nine recorded GLOF incidents so far.

Way forward

Dr Amir said measures underway to tackle climate change and water scarcity were inadequate. If action was not accelerated, he said, economic growth and development would be adversely affected in the coming decades.

He said the country needed to build a new dam every six to seven years to sustain the economy.

None of the dams currently planned would be capable of making a contribution before 2020.

“There are at least nine sites in Pakistan with a power generation potential of over 60,000 megawatts,” he said. Dr Amir said there were reports and studies on issues related to climate change in Pakistan.

The pressing need was to implement their recommendations through sound policies. He sought strengthening of environment-related institutions to boost research on pressing issues and to monitor and penalize violations.

About adverse effects on agriculture and public health, he said engagement with communities was needed to control the damage.

SOURCE: (Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2012.)

 

Annual Temperature Projections for Next 20 Years in Sindh

Temperature is not highly variable weather parameter like rainfall over the monthly, annual and decadal scales. However, a better guess of expected temperatures provide ample time for planning purposes both at the farmers and policy maker’s level. During the next 20 years, the mean daily temperatures are expected to range from 26-27°C along the coastal belt of Sindh, 27-28°C in central parts of the province while upper Sindh will experience them between 27-29°C. Following graphs present a picture of the thermal regime of main towns and cities of the Sindh province likely to prevail during 2011-2030.

 

The rise in temperature will increase the rate of evaporation of moisture from the soil surface and transpiration from the plant tissues in the vegetated areas of the province. They will directly enhance the water requirement of field crops, animals, human beings as well as the domestic and the industrial sectors. Water is going to be a limiting factor as population increase and warming climate will claim a larger share to satisfy their demands. Although some additional amount of glacier melt water is expected to improve the river discharge but uncertainty of availability on temporal and spatial scales will be a great challenge.

IMPACT OF RAINFALL ON RICE:

Rice production in Pakistan is highly correlated with monsoon rainfall. The relationships between rainfall variation and rice production have attracted significant interest at a country scale in Asia, but regional differences within a country remain unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of rainfall variation on ‘kharif’ rice (rainy season rice)—including temporal changes in this relationship—mostly, using a statistical model and a district-level data series of rice production and rainfall. Three homogeneous regions were identified within the study area. In the upper Ganges, the drought effect on rice production was dominant; however it became less pronounced due to decreased rainfall variation. In the lower Ganges, the flood effect increased due to increased rainfall. In the Brahmaputra Basin, the drought effect increased due to increased rainfall variation. Non-stationarity in the rainfall–rice production relationship was caused mainly by changes in rainfall patterns; however the impact of other factors, including social factors, should be evaluated on a regional scale.

 

 

SOURCE: IR (Inter-Research Science Centre)

IMPACT OF RAINFALL ON RICE IN SINDH:

Paddy crops, of Irri-6 and Irri-9, have been hit by heavy rains both in Sindh and Punjab. But the damage done varies from mild to severe depending upon the maturity of the crop which was sown relatively late this year due to water shortage.

Growers say that where these non-Basmati varieties had been replanted before mid-August and where rainfall had not been very heavy or had not been accompanied by flooding the crop has been hit only slightly. But where they had not been replanted, like in some parts of Punjab, or where they were just being replanting as in some parts of Sindh, heavy rains combined with overflowing rivers and canals have damaged the crop.

“Many like me in Ghotki had even hired workers for coarse rice thrashing in Sindh in August as we were expecting that harvesting would start in September,” said a Ghotki-based rice trader Namal Das who buys paddy from rice fields and help rice mills in their thrashing on contract basis. “Harvesting has delayed now and may not begin until the third week of this month.”

As for Basmati varieties, heavy rains have not hit the crop much because of two reasons. First, after experiencing last year’s heavy rains and flooding, growers had taken maximum care of saving the crop from their ill effects. Secondly, Basmati fields in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in some parts of Balochistan are generally not located in low-lying areas and draining out rain water is easier there.

Harvesting of Basmati normally begins after the harvesting of Irri-6 and Irri-9. Growers say they will begin reaping this year’s crop sometime in mid or late October in Sindh and parts of Punjab and late as in November in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan has set 6.9 million tonnes of milled rice target for the current cropping year. An official of federal food security and research ministry says it is difficult to predict precisely whether the target would be met “but even if there is any slippage it would not be that big.”

Growers’ groups fear that late sowing of paddy in Sindh and Punjab due to water shortage and then belated medium to heavy rainfall may have a mixed impact on rice output and they too believe it is premature now to assess the impact of rains on overall paddy production.

SOURCE: By From InpaperMagazine

Published Sep 16, 2012 08:19pm

Future Precipitation Change in Sindh Province

Rainfall is a highly variable climate parameter over time and space. Future projections of rainfall on decadal scale for central and upper climatic zones of the Sindh province are given in the following graphs which on one hand indicate large inter-decadal variations and on the other hand a decreasing trend of rainfall can be clearly seen at all stations of the province. Climate models project the future rainfall pattern in such a way than in the first half of the century, the amounts of rainfall is likely to increase whereas the second half will follow a sharp decline with highly variable occurrence. The decade of 2060s is predominantly a drought stricken decade for the whole province of Sindh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHALANGES FOR RICE CROPS:

SEA-LEVEL RISE:

Experts have predicted that, as a consequence of melting polar ice caps and glaciers due to rising temperatures, seawater levels may rise on average by about 1 m by the end of the 21st century. Rice is grown in vast low-lying deltas and coastal areas in Asia; sea-level rise would therefore make rice production very vulnerable to climate change. More than half of rice produce, for instance, is grown in the Mekong River delta—all of which would be affected by sea-level rise. Predicting the precise effect of sea-level rise on rice production in vulnerable areas is complicated because the effect goes beyond sea-level rise itself. The entire hydrology of the delta will be affected; sediment discharge and shoreline gradients will change.

FLOODING:

Rice is unique in that it can thrive in wet conditions where other crops fail. Uncontrolled flooding is a problem, however, because rice cannot survive if submerged under water for long periods of time. Flooding caused by sea-level rises in coastal areas and the predicted increased intensity of tropical storms with climate change will likely hinder rice production. At present, about 20 million hectares of the world’s rice-growing area is at risk of occasionally being flooded to submergence level, particularly in major rice-producing countries such as India and Bangladesh. Major flooding events are likely to increase in frequency with the onslaught of climate change and rice-growing areas, currently not exposed to flooding, will experience floods.

SALINITY:

Salinity is also associated with higher sea levels as this will bring saline water further inland and expose more rice-growing areas to salty conditions. Rice is only moderately tolerant of salt and yields can be reduced when salinity is present. As with sea-level rises, the effects of salinity can permeate throughout whole deltas and fundamentally change hydrological systems.

WATER SCARCITY:

Rice requires ample water to grow. Rainless days for a week in upland rice-growing areas and for about two weeks in shallow lowland rice-growing areas can significantly reduce rice yields. Average yield reduction in rain fed, drought-prone areas has ranged from 17 to 40% in severe drought years, leading to production losses and food scarcity. With the onset of climate change, the intensity and frequency of droughts are predicted to increase in rain fed rice-growing areas and droughts could extend further into water-short irrigated areas. Water scarcity affects more than 23 million hectares of rain fed rice production areas in South and Southeast Asia. In Africa, recurring drought affects nearly 80% of the potential 20 million hectares of rain fed lowland rice. Drought also affects rice production in Australia, China, USA, and other countries.

 

PEST, DESEASE AND WEEDS:

Surveys in hundreds of farmers’ fields over the last 10 years show that rice diseases and pests are strongly influenced by climate change. Water shortages, irregular rainfall patterns, and related water stresses increase the intensity of some diseases, including brown spot and blast. On the other hand, new environmental conditions and shifts in production practices that farmers may adopt to cope with climate change could lead to reductions of diseases such as sheath blight or insects such as whorl maggots or cutworms. As such, new crop health’s dynamics are emerging. Weed infestation and rice-weed competition are predicted to increase and will represent a major challenge for sustainable rice production. Also, extreme weather events have recently led to dramatic rodent population outbreaks in Asia due to unseasonal and asynchronous cropping.

SOURCE: (IRRI- INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

CLIMATE IMPACT ON RICE CROP IN SIDH:

 

Rice production in Sindh would likely be decreased in 2011, in comparison of production of 2010, because a large number of flood-hit growers could not cultivate rice crops on their lands due to dread of floods. 
Reliable sources inside Sindh Agriculture department told Business Recorder on Tuesday that Agriculture department has conducted a survey in order to know the expected production of rice of province in which it was disclosed that production would be reduced. 
Larkana, Shikarpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Thatta and Dadu districts were major producers of rice in Sindh but the said districts had faced irreparable losses due to floods of last year. 
Rice crops standing on thousands of acres had been washed out and growers had faced huge financial losses in this situation. Though Sindh government had distributed seed and fertilisers among flood-hit growers yet a large number of growers from the said districts did not cultivate the rice crops on all lands due to fear of floods, sources told. 
Slow progress about the on-going schemes of rehabilitation of Indus and non-Indus dykes have also created unrest among the growers, sources revealed. 
In 2010, rice production in said districts was recorded as half in comparison of 2009 due to heavy losses because of floods. According to the official report obtained by Business Recorder, 1,230,304 tons production of all verities of rice had been recorded in 2010 919,364 tons production of Irri, 264,785 tons production of Hybrid, 42,542 tons production of Basmati and 3613 tons production of other varieties had been recorded by the Sindh Agriculture department. 
While rice production of 2009 was 2,422,347 tons from which 1,728,176 tons production of Irri, 583,104 tons production of Hybrid, 103,195 tons production of Basmati and 7,872 tons production of other varieties had been registered by officials of Agriculture department, report further mentioned. 
In 2009 Larkana's rice production was 383,600 tons, Shikarpur's production was 331,853 tons, Qambar-Shahdadkot's production was 296,195 tons, Jacobabad's production was 291,644 tons, Kashmore-Kandhkot's production was 254,402 tons, Badin's production was 254,807 tons, Thatta's production was 215,532 tons and Dadu's rice production was 172,210 tonne, report added. 
Khairpur Mir's, Ghotki, Sukkur, NaushehroFeroze, Benazirabad (Nawabshah), Sanghar, Jamshoro
Hyderabad, Matiari and Tando Mohammad Khan districts are low producers of rice. While there is no-cultivation of rice in Karachi, Tharparkar and Tandoallahyar districts, report stated. In this connection, an official of Agriculture department told Business Recorder that though prior authorities of department knew about the fear of rice-growers even then they did not took serious efforts to aware the growers in this regard. 
He said that prior authorities should have sent mobile teams in flood-hit areas in order to support the rice growers but they didn't do this and resulting, Sindh will face shortage of rice in current season.

SOURCE: (Business Recorder, 2011)

 

 

 

SOWING PERIOD OF MAJOR CROPS

DISTRICT WISE SOWING PERIOD OF RICE CROP IN SINDH

Sr.#

Name of District

Sowing Period

1.

Jacobabad

15th June - 15 July

2.

Shikarpur

15th June - 15 July

3.

Larkana

15th June - 15 July

4.

Sukkur

-

5.

Ghotki

-

6.

Khairpur

-

7.

N.S. Feroze

-

8.

Nawabshah

-

9.

Sanghar

-

10.

Mirpurkhas

-

11.

Hyderabad

15 April - 15th May

12.

Thar

-

13.

Badin

15 April - 15th May

14.

Thatta

15 April - 15th May

15.

Dadu

15th June - 15 July

16.

Karachi

-

SOURCE: (Govt OF SINDH-AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT)

 

Market Year

Production

Unit of Measure

Growth Rate

2000

4802

(1000 MT)

-6.87 %

2001

3882

(1000 MT)

-19.16 %

2002

4479

(1000 MT)

15.38 %

2003

4848

(1000 MT)

8.24 %

2004

5025

(1000 MT)

3.65 %

2005

5547

(1000 MT)

10.39 %

2006

5450

(1000 MT)

-1.75 %

2007

5700

(1000 MT)

4.59 %

2008

6900

(1000 MT)

21.05 %

2009

6800

(1000 MT)

-1.45 %

2010

5000

(1000 MT)

-26.47 %

2011

6200

(1000 MT)

24.00 %

2012

5800

(1000 MT)

-6.45 %

2013

6600

(1000 MT)

13.79 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crop/

Year

Area

2000-01

2376.6

2001-02

2114.2

2002-03

2225.2

2003-04

2460.6

2004-05

2519.6

2005-06

2621.4

2006-07

2581.2

2007-08

2515.4

2008-09

2962.6

 

 

AREA OF RICE CROP IN SINDH

(Area in "000" Hectares)

Crop/

Year

Area

 

2000-01

540.1

2001-02

461.1

2002-03

488.3

2003-04

551.2

2004-05

543.9

2005-06

593.2

2006-07

598.1

2007-08

594.0

2008-09

733.5

 

Province-wise Area and Production

Of Rice Crop

 

 

                                                            

 

]

 

SOURCE: CROPS AREA AND PRODUCTION (BY DISTRICTS)

 (1981-82 TO 2008-09) VOLUME I FOOD AND CASH CROPS

GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN STATISTICS DIVISION

FEDERAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS (ECONOMIC WING)

ISLAMABAD

 

Zone A1 covers the districts of Shikarpur, Larkana and the northern taluka (Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah) of Dadu district. Dadu, Rice and NWC Canals of Sukkur Barrage Irrigate the zone. Rice is the major crop of the zone, followed by wheat while Rabi pulses and oilseeds are dubari crops. Wheat, sugarcane, oilseeds, Rabi and Kharif vegetables as well as guava and dates are also grown under the command of Dadu and NWC perennial canals. Zone A2 covers the region of Jacobabad and Larkana districts. Here the soil is richer in clays than the soil of Zone A1, potentially more fertile and less prone to salinity Environmental and Social Management Framework Pakistan - Sindh Agriculture Growth Project 4-11problems. However, it is slower to drain. The major crop of the zone is rice in Kharif, followed by wheat, Rabi pulses and oilseeds as dubari crops.

Zone B: Zone B covers the left bank of river Indus in the districts of Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Naushero Feroze, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar. The entire Zone is Indus flood plain. Saline soils are encountered throughout the zone. The problem Tends to be more acute in the east of Ghotki and Sukkur Districts (Zone B1) and in Eastern Sanghar and Mirpurkhas District (Zone B2). Cotton and sugarcane are the main Kharif crops of Zone B1. Oilseeds like sesame and sunflower are also being cultivated increasingly in the zone due to water scarcity. Wheat, oilseeds and vegetables follow the Kharif crops.

Zone B2: lies in the command area of four perennial canals (Rohri, Khairpur Feeder Eastland West and Nara) of the Sukkur barrage covering the districts Khairpur, Naushero Feroze, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, and Tharparkar. The major Kharif crops of the zoneare cotton and sugarcane, followed by sesame, sunflower, and groundnuts. In the Rabi season,wheat is the major crop followed by rapeseed, mustard, sugarcane, Rabi vegetables, andonion. The zone also produces mango, banana, chiku, Papaya, citrus, and jujube.

Zone C: Zone C consists of lower Sindh, and isfed from the Kotri Barrage. It includes the IndusDelta and covers the districts of Thatta, Karachi, Badin (except taluka Matli and Northern parts ofTandoBago) and taluka Tando Mohammad Khanof District Hyderabad. Zone C is more saline than any other area in Sindh. Salinity and water-loggingare most Severe in this zone where drainage is difficult due to an absence of a gradient. The climate of Zone C is mild and humid, and ithas the highest rainfall in Sindh (180 to 250 mmper year). However, its agricultural production islow. The main crops are rice and Sugarcane in Kharif, which are followed by wheat and vegetables in perennial areas. The Main vegetables grown here are onion and tomato and the zone also produces banana, chiku, papaya and coconut. Palm oil plantation has been successfully introduced in this Zone.

SOURCE: Pakistan - Sindh Agriculture Growth Project

Major Challenges:

·         Increased requirements of irrigation water due to higher evapotranspiration at elevated temperatures; while less water will be available.

·         Uncertainty to timely availability of irrigation water caused by changes in river flows due to glacier melting and altered precipitation pattern; shortage of irrigation water due to inadequate storage capacity;

·         Erratic and uncertain rainfall patterns affecting particularly the rain-fed agriculture;

·         Increased frequency and intensity of extreme climate events such as floods, drought and cyclones resulting in heavy damages to both crops and livestock;

·         Abundance of insects, pests and pathogens in warmer and more humid environment, particularly after heavy rains and floods;

·         Degradation of rangeland and further deterioration of the already degraded cultivated land areas such as those suffering from water erosion, wind erosion, water-logging, salinity etc

·         Intrusion of sea water into deltaic region affecting coastal agriculture, forestry and biodiversity;

·         Lack of technical capacity to predict with reasonable certainty the expected changes in climatic parameters such as temperature, precipitation, extreme events etc.;

·         Low adaptive capacity to adverse climate change impacts.

·

World Production and Trade OF RICE
According to FAO’s latest forecast, world production in 2004/05 may have reached 606 MT of paddy rice (405 in white equivalent), against 585 MT in the last year up by 3.5%. As a result of this increased production, world rice trade is estimated at 25.9 MT, against 27 MT in 2004. Production grew mainly in China, where prices recovery and large utilization of hybrid varieties have contributed to boost supply. In the rest of the world, production also raised due to the expansion of rice areas and higher yields. For 2005/06, it is expected another increase, to 615 MT. Nevertheless, supply is still not enough when compared to consumption needs (414 MT in white equivalent). It will lead to a new fall in world stocks, from 97 MT in the year before to 95 MT, the lowest level since 1982.


SOURCE: (FAO- FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION)

Economic Importance of Rice for Pakistan

Rice is the second most important crop which brings economic prosperity of the growers as well as earns billions of rupees through its export for country. Pakistani fine rice commonly known as Basmati is world famous and enjoys monopoly in the international market, due to its quality characteristics, strong aroma, slender and long kernel, gelatinization, temperature and high degree of grain elongation on cooking. However, the grain yield of basmati rice varieties is very low. In order to remain in the International market, we have to further improve the quality as well as yield of basmati varieties. Rice plays a pivotal role in the agro-based and occupies a prominent position in agricultural economy of Pakistan.

Rice is a high valued cash crop and is also a major export item. It accounts for 5.7 percent of the total value added in agriculture and 1.3 percent to GDP. Production of rice during 2004-05 is provisionally estimated at 4991 thousand tons, which is 2.9 percent higher than last year. Rice was cultivated on an area of 2503 thousand hectares, showing an increase of 1.7 percent over last year. The higher production is due to favourable weather condition.

http://oryza.com/sites/default/files/field/image/pakistan%20-%204414-a.jpg

SOURCE: (FAO- FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION)

Major Producing Areas

Major producing areas include Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Jhang & Okara of Punjab and Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Badin, Dadu & Thatta districts of Sindh.

Main Varieties
In Pakistan, rice is mainly grown in the Sindh and Punjab. The Sindh is specialized in producing the Long grain white rice IRRI-6 and IRRI-9, while Punjab is producing world class Basmati rice among IRRI-9 and other varieties. Punjab is the biggest producer of rice in the country and contributes 58 per cent to national production while the provinces of Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP to 29, 3 and 10 per cent, respectively. Some of the important varieties grown in the country are Super Basmati, Kernel Basmati, Basmati 385, IRRI-6, IRRI-9, KS-282, DR-82 and DR-83. All rice is irrigated and mainly transplanted. On an average, each household in Pakistan spends about 3.8 percent of its total food expenditure on rice and rice flour. It is the second staple food and contributes more than 2 million tons to Pakistan's national food requirement.

Rice Export

Like India, Pakistan exports both high-quality Basmati rice which sells at a substantial premium in high-income markets as well as intermediate and low quality non-aromatic long grain milled rice to developing countries, mostly in East Africa where it competes with China and Vietnam, and in South Asia. Pakistan’s Basmati rice typically sells at a lower price than India’s Basmati. For all rice, Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Middle East and the EU are leading export markets for Pakistan.

Rice exports reached record US$ 932.3 million, showing an extraordinary increase of US$ 297.8 million (46.9 percent) during FY 05 despite a fall in unit values. Export values of basmati rice and other varieties stood at US$ 439 and US$ 493.6 respectively.


Benefits of Rice Futures Contract

Futures Contract of Rice would provide hedging platform for the following market participants.

 Progressive Growers
Ø
 Millers
Ø
 Manufacturers of Value Added Products
Ø
 Traders
Ø
 Exporters
Ø
 Investor
Ø

Rice futures price is important to farmers, millers, exporters. All groups can use futures price or price discovery as information to direct their businesses or to manage their risk.

In addition, exporters can use futures exchange as hedging tools to manage their risk. They can buy rice futures contract and sell futures contract before the first delivery notice day called "offset", then the exporters take profit or loss from contract price difference. If they buy high and sell higher, they will gain from buying futures contract. In contrast, they buy high and sell low, they will lose from buying futures contract.

In cash market, exporters can buy or sell rice futures contract in which they may take profit or lose as well. Fortunately, they gain in futures exchange but lose in cash market. And the gain covers their losses, so they will take profit.

Source: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.                                                           .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Protection NGOs of pakistan

List of NGOs working on Protecting environment and Creating sustainable World.

Logo
(Submitted by Orgnizations)

Name and Website

Active Since

Postal Address

Work Overview / Comments
(Submitted by Orgnizations. Edited for clarity and content uniqueness)

protect environment

Lead- Leadership for sustainable World

1995

LEAD Pakistan
LEAD House
F-7 Markaz
Islamabad - 44000
Pakistan
UAN: +92-51-111 511 111
Ph: +92-51-2651511

 

citizens for better environment

Shehri- Citizens for a Better Environment

 

206 - G, Block 2
P.E.C.H.S
Karachi - 75400
Pakistan.
Telephone: 92 - 21 - 4530646

 

eco watch pakistan

Eco Watch Trust

 

 

 

safe pakistan

Safe - Social Alliance for Friendly Environment

 

Suit no. 4 2nd Floor Junaid Palaza Iqbal Road Committee Choak Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Ph# 00-92-51-5531621

 

scope pakistan environment

Scope- Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment

 

 

 

pakistan environment institute

Piedar- Pakistan Institute of Environmental Development & Action Research

 

Office # 3, First Floor,64 E
Masco Plaza, Blue Area, Islamabad
PH: +92-51-2820359

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pakistan environmentalists association

Pakistan Environmentalists Association

 

177B, Jhanzaib Block,
Allama Iqbal Town,
Lahore, Pakistan

 

 

 

 

 

 

doaba foundation

Doaba Foundation

2000

 

Working on climate change.

environment sargodha

Majlis Tahaffaz Maholiat (MTM)

1996

Flat. # 7-A, Shaheen Plaza, Railway Road Sargodha

Ph. # 048-6886143, 0302-3539469, 0300-6007292

 

environment ngo pakistan

Subh-e-Nau

 

Islamabad Office:
Tel: +92-51-4432194

Karachi Office:
Tel: +92-21-34946891

Environmental awareness projects. Organic food promotion, trees plantation etc.

 

 

 

 

 

sustainable tourism foundation pakistan

STFP-Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan

 

House No.5, St. No.11, Banigala, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Tel: 051-2612448, Cell: 0300-9742158

Growing tourism industry by preserving natural habitats of Pakistan. Partners with NGOs and NPOs related to environment conservation.

 

Al-Hayat Green Shield Environment Society

 

FECT 31-C, Circular oad, University Town, Peshawar, Pakistan Ph: 92-091-45387 / 840511

 

 

Daman Environment protection Soceity- DEPS

 

Qasre Abbas, North circular road, Dera ismail khan.

TEL: 0961717163

 

 

Village Environment Protection Society

 

Peshawar, Pakistan

 

 

Serena Environmental Society (SES)

 

C/O Quetta Serena Hotel, Shahra-e-Zarghoon, P.O. Box No. 109, QuettaCantonment,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Environmental Protection NGOs of pakistan

 

 and Other Government Agencies with Environmental Concerns in Pakistan

 

Primary Government Environmental Agency:

MINISTRY OF CLIMATE CHANGE (MOCC)  -  www.mocc.gov.pk 

·         ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (AEDB)  -  www.aedb.org

 

·         GARDENS OF PAKISTAN, NATIONAL FUND FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE  -  www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/gardens.html

·         GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PAKISTAN (GSP)  -  www.gsp.gov.pk

·         NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CENTRE (ENERCON)   www.enercon.gov.pk

·         NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY (NIO)  -  www.niopk.gov.pk

·         PAKISTAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (PARC)  -  www.parc.gov.pk

·         PAKISTAN COUNCIL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES (PCRET)  www.pcret.gov.pk

·         PAKISTAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (Pak-EPA)   www.environment.gov.pk

·         PAKISTAN METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT (PMD) www.pmd.gov.pk

·         PAKISTAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY  -  www.pmnh.gov.pk

·         PAKISTAN WETLANDS PROGRAMME, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT

www.pakistanwetlands.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pakistan Environmental Protection Agecies

 

*Pakistan Environmental  Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency for Azad Kashmir.

*EPA for  Punjab Province Pakistan Punjab Province.

*EPA for  Sindh Sindh Province.

*EPA for  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province.

*EPA for  Balochistan Province.

*EPA for  Gilgit-Baltistan.

Sindh Environmental Protection Agency

Its main functions include:

  • Monitoring and regulating agency
  • Responsible for enforcement of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997
  • Enforce National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS)
  • Implement Self Monitoring & Reporting Tool (SMART)
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Advise and coordinate with the government, NGOs etc. on preventive measures for abatement of pollution.
  • Assist local authorities and government departments to implement schemes for proper disposal of wastes to ensure compliance with NEQS
  • Enhance awareness among general public.
  • Conduct research and studies on different environmental issues.
  • Attend to public complaints on environmental issues.
  • Carry out any other task related to environment assigned by the government.

 

 

Presently following development schemes are in process of implementation.(Projects)

·         1. Vehicular Emission Monitoring & Awareness Activity in Karachi, 2010

·         2. Arsenic Contamination in Underground Water in Sindh
 

·         3. Public Awareness and Environmental Education in Urban/Rural Sindh
 

·         4. Study on Hospital Waste Management for one major Government/Public Sector Hospital and one Private Hospital
 

·         5. Vehicular Emission Control Program
 

·         6. Water Quality Monitoring Program - NDP

 

 

Objective:

 

·         To examine the climate impacts on Cotton crops in Sindh province of Pakistan

 

Review of literature:

Muhammad Azeem Qureshi et al (2014), Mujeeb Khanzada et al (2014), Hassan Ujjan et al (2014), Yasir Gul et al (2014) Teerath et al (2014), Wazeer Ali et al (2014), Faheem Chachar et al (2014), Iftikhar Pathan et al (2014).

Key words: Environment - Change - Impact - Rice - Sindh -Pakistan.

Methodology:

The methodology is defined in two steps: conceptual framework and empirical model. The conceptual framework discusses general procedure adopted to estimate the technical and environmental efficiency while the empirical model explains the details of production function specification and mathematical manipulation employed to estimate environmental efficiency.Future projections of climate depend upon the authentic knowledge of future state of emissions, level of environmental governance, demographic parameters, socio-economic condition and technological advances. Likely state of future affairs is incorporated in Global Climate Models to produce their outputs on extended scales for the globe.  

Result:

The production trend of rice in Pakistan generally constant in some areas, production and yield during 2000-2001 the area under rice crop2, 376.6 (000 Hectare) with the production was 4341 (000 MT) 2,039 kg/hec. Similarly during 2012-2013 area was 2,309 (000 Hectare) and production was 6200 (000 MT) 2,398 kg/hec. The change percent of area, production and yield was stagnant due to importance of crop and mine precisely because of moderate environmental change. In 2010 summer flood Pakistan lost $9 Billion in summer flood in Sindh. From 2000-1 t0 2013-14 the change in production is 14.9% in rice. While the growth rate is 2.78 from 2001 to 2013.

Suggestion:

Nationwide climate change policy should be devised through legislation clearly defining the role of federation and provinces as well as public and private sector organizations

Climate change monitoring and impact assessment activities should be organized on scientific basis by filling the observational gaps over low elevation plains and glaciers zones

Climate resilient infrastructure should be built along the coastal belt and wind power potential already identified along Sind coast be harnessed to initiate development opportunity in the deltaic region

Increasing losses of crops due to frequent floods, Drought and tropical cyclones having been pressing the farming community’s marginal economic condition harder and harder. Insurance industry should be urged to play its role

In the upper catchments of the Indus, water reservoirs should be constructed to reduce the flood losses and regulated water supply over the Indus Delta. National water policy should devise the mutually accepted water distribution method

Low elevation and poor drainage have been causing water logging and salinity which required technically viable drainage infrastructure to reclaim the heavy soils of the delta

Due to sea level rise, increased intrusion of sea water into the Indus deltaic region, the whole range of marine life will be affected besides causing damage to mangroves, coral reefs and coastal lagoons. Minimum environmental flow in the Indus must be ensured to stop sea water intrusion

Avoid flood irrigation and adopt modern efficient irrigation methods such as use of sprinkler, drip and trickle irrigation systems; Reduce seepage from the canals and distribution network which has been degrading the fertile soils

REFERENCES:

(IRRI-- INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

IR (Inter-Research Science Centre)

United States Department of Agriculture

CROPS AREA AND PRODUCTION (BY DISTRICTS) (1981-82 TO 2008-09) VOLUME I FOOD AND CASH CROPS GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN STATISTICS DIVISION FEDERAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS (ECONOMIC WING) ISLAMABAD

Pakistan - Sindh Agriculture Growth Project

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.

(FAO- FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION)

Afzaal, M., Haroon, M. A., and ul Zaman, Q., 2009: Interdecadal Oscillations and the Warming Trend in the Area-Weighted Annual Mean Temperature of Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Meteorology, 6(11).

Chaudhary, Q. Z., and G. Rasul., 2004: Agro-Climatic Classification of Pakistan. Science Vision, Vol.9 No. 1-2 (Jul-Dec 2003) & No. 3-4 (Jan-Jun 2004), 59-66). Chang, C.-P., and T.N

Haider, K. W., G. Rasul and M. Afzaal, 2008: A Study on Tropical Cyclones of the Arabian Sea in June 2007 and Their Connection with Sea Surface Temperature. Pakistan Journal of Meteorology, Vol. 4 No. 8. pp. 37-48.

Haroon, M. A., & Rasul, G., 2009: Principal Component Analysis of Summer Rainfall and Outgoing Long-Wave Radiation over Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Meteorology, Vol.5 (10)