Speaking at an event titled 'Improving Skills on Sustainable Watershed Management practices in South Asia,' organised by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), they said Pakistan is situated in the worst climate change zone and has been ranked among the top ten countries at risk to climate change. They said sustainable watershed management brings the management of water, land, crops and energy together for sustainable agriculture and improved livelihood of watershed communities.
The main objective of the project is capacity building of professionals on improved site specific technologies for promoting sustainable watersheds according to climate change scenarios of Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
PARC chairman Dr Munir Ahmed speaking on the occasion welcomed all the guests from Nepal and Sri Lanka and said workshop on sustainable watershed management practices in South Asia will be a source of effective skill development on improved watershed management practices and strengthening regional linkages, especially with Nepal and Sri Lanka.
He said the project is focused on sustainable watershed management practices which will ultimately increase the farming community resilience to climate change through stimulated adoption of improved practices. He also appreciated the international participants from Nepal and Sri Lanka for their interest in sustainable watershed management interventions and Asia Pacific Network (APN), Japan, for providing Pakistan with financial resources for this important project. The PARC chairman also added that this project has provided an opportunity for strengthening linkages and further avenue of research collaboration among the three South Asian countries and donor country Japan.
While addressing to the participants, National Agriculture Research Council (NARC) DG Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali said Pakistan is fast becoming a water-scarce country owing to various reasons such as climate change induced risks, improper water management at all levels, rapid population growth rate and urbanisation.
The PARC being an apex agricultural research and development (R&D) body of Pakistan fully realises the significance of technological advancements in water sector for improved land and water productivity as well as human resource development for effective utilisation of such technologies. He further added that PARC has envisaged both technological demonstrations to improve overall water productivity, watershed sustainability and more importantly on human resource development aspect to make efficient use of advanced water-smart technologies. He also expressed that climate change as well as degradation of natural resources is a regional issue which can be more effectively addressed through strengthening cooperation, linkages and research collaborations among the regional countries, especially Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Japan.
Project leader of Climate Energy and Water Research Institute (CEWRI), NARC, Dr Ghani Akbar presented project overview and its achievements.
The distinguished delegates including Sewa Lamsal, envoy of Nepal, Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid, Sri Lankan envoy, Madan Lall Shrestha from Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and Dr SHSA De Silva from Natural Resources Management Centre, Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka, also addressee on the occasion and expressed their views on the objectives and outcomes of the project.