Caretaker Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik has said using natural elements for supporting agricultural activities is most desirable approach. He said this while addressing the 5th PlantwisePlus National Forum meeting at a local hotel on Friday. He said, “Climate change and realisation to move away from fossil fuel technology are highly important.” He said anything related to bio was extremely important whether it was biocontrol, biopesticide, biofertilizer, biostimulant, etc.
He said that climate change was impacting agriculture in a number of ways, often exacerbating existing challenges to crop production. Smallholder farmers in developing countries were the most vulnerable and disproportionately affected because they lack the capacity to cope with uncertainties created by a rapidly changing world, he added.
He said smallholders needed to adapt to farming practices to climate hazards to maintain the quality and quantity of crops, or in some cases diversify into new forms of farming and livelihoods. He said that it was very important to look at soil health to obtain desired results. Dr Kausar said, “We are consuming most important resources of gas and energy in developing fertilizers.” Fertilizers were important but the way they were being used was illogical, he added. The minister said that import and export depend on sanitary and phytosanitary measures as it was extremely important. He suggested the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to impart training to all our potential exporters and importers as they were not aware of SPS. He said that biopesticide was also extremely important and there was need to encourage research and development for developing biopesticides adding that pesticides put negative impact on environment.
