In a groundbreaking move to enhance agricultural productivity while conserving water, agricultural experts in Sindh have developed 22 new crop varieties that promise higher yields with significantly reduced water usage.
The new varieties, including those for cotton, maize, mustard, rice, pulses, and mango, were recently approved by the Provincial Seed Council of the Sindh government.
The crucial approval was granted during an important meeting chaired by Sindh’s Minister of Agriculture, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Khan Mehr. The minister emphasized the importance of these innovations, especially in the face of climate change and increasing water scarcity, which have severely impacted traditional farming practices across the country.
The approved varieties include three new varieties of cotton – CKC1, CKC221 – and four new rice varieties – CKC6, Ghori 2, Haf 3, and ICS 386. The council also approved 10 additional crop varieties across various agricultural sectors. Among these are new maize varieties such as Mazhar Gold, Sindh Rani, and Sarhan, as well as mustard varieties like Neeya Canola and Neeya Toria Gold. In addition, the Mirpurkhas Desi Mango variety was also given the green light for cultivation.
The new sesame variety, TS3, was approved along with four rice varieties, KS434, Basmati 515, and Kainat, which are expected to help farmers adapt to the evolving agricultural landscape.
Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Khan Mehr congratulated DG Research Mazhar Kario and his team for their exceptional work in developing these new agricultural crop varieties. The minister noted that these innovations are crucial to addressing the challenges posed by climate change, including rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns.
“As climate change continues to affect our agricultural systems, it is vital to adopt new technologies and techniques to ensure food security,” said Mehr. “Due to decreasing rainfall, it’s imperative that we modify traditional farming practices and introduce crop varieties that are more resilient to water stress.”
The Minister also highlighted the significant progress that Sindh has made in cotton production, surpassing Punjab this year. He attributed this success to the better crop care practices and the use of modern techniques by farmers in Sindh, which have helped mitigate the impact of water shortages.
Despite facing significant water scarcity, Sindh is emerging as a model for other provinces, demonstrating how innovative farming practices can lead to sustainable agricultural growth even in challenging environmental conditions. The new crop varieties approved by the Provincial Seed Council represent a significant step forward in ensuring that Sindh continues to lead the way in agricultural innovation and resilience.
This move signals a hopeful future for the province’s agricultural sector, offering a potential blueprint for other regions grappling with similar challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity. – ER Report
