HYDERABAD: Experts at a dialogue on ‘Climate-Water Interface issues and strategies for future’ on Friday warned that poor water management might trigger food insecurity in Pakistan.
The dialogue was jointly organised by the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) and the Research Development Foundation (RDF).
The event attracted representatives of different government and private organisations, growers, environmentalists, water specialists, academia and community people.
Umar Karim, water sources management specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) proposed to maintain available forest cover and initiate further forestation projects to lessen the effects of climate change.
He said that the southern province – Sindh – was mainly dependent on river water. “Being situated in tail end, we either face flooding if there is more water in the river or face droughts and dryness in case of shortage of water.”
He went on to say, “Heat stress is a major problem. It will impact habitat and life in future. Temperature rise does also affect livestock with spread of diseases among animals.”
In his wide ranging presentation, he said that there was exploitation of water through industries, misuse and mismanagement, and added that the province was losing underground water in many areas. Coastal area people are vulnerable to face cyclones, floods and dryness due to these natural changes. “Food security threats are also visible due to decline in crops yields. These effects we may see in rural areas,” he added.
Muhammad Khan Mari, an expert on water management who is working as a programme manager at Baanh Beli, said: “Kohistan and Tharparkar districts were rain-fed areas but people can’t use rainwater due to lack of an effective mechanism.”
In his understanding around 10 million acre feet (MAF) rainwater is wasted without managing for use in agriculture and drinking purposes. He said all the canals were receiving drainage, municipal and industrial waste, polluting water sources.
Quoting a report, he said that 50 percent water in Sindh was saline. “Besides, we do not have proper drainage system to avert problems emerging quite recently.” He said all the cities and towns were using water from River Indus and canals, but they were unable to take care of the water sources.
He added that underground water was also shallow and arsenic. “Thatta, Naushahro Feroze and parts of Dadu districts have arsenic in water sources due to excessive use of pesticides.” He said coastal area people in Thatta, Sujawal and Badin comprising around 1.2 million people did not have access to safe drinking water and people were compelled to spend more share of their earning on buying water for domestic use. “Also River Indus has received six feet raise of silt, causing problems to smooth flow of water.”
Sindh Abadgar Board Vice President Mahmood Nawaz Shah said that the FAO had expressed fear that population increase might require more food sources for survival. He mentioned upcoming challenges when the population would increase manifold amid lack of an effective mechanism to produce more food.
In his introductory remarks, SIDA General Manager Nazeer Essani said that the major issue was water, which needs management. “Agriculture, wetlands, domestic water, industries, ecology and forests need water. Wetlands are being degraded rapidly due to water scarcity wetlands, creating fears among the communities depending on the natural resources. The entire system is integrated and we will have to address all issues,” he said.
Prof Ismail Kumbhar of the Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam said, “Since 1995 we are witnessing effects of weather changes, water scarcity and threats to food security. “There is a dire need to follow the climate change policy to avoid disaster and lessen the effects of climate change. But irony is that there are policies, which are not being implemented.”
Published in Daily Times, September 16th 2017.
