Agriculture: Enhancing crop water productivity

In the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions, the agricultural sector in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, finds itself grappling with a myriad of challenges. With rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts wreaking havoc, crop yields have been severely impacted, and water availability has become increasingly scarce. The current scenario presents a substantial threat to the sustenance of food and the means of livelihood. Nevertheless, amidst these overwhelming challenges, there arises a ray of optimism as farmers delve into various techniques and methods to enhance crop water productivity. Pakistan’s crop water productivity falls behind the global average, with wheat and rice crops exhibiting lower yields per unit of water. The current water productivity of wheat stands at 0.76 kilograms per cubic meter of water, 24 per cent less than the global average of 1kg per cubic meter.