ISLAMABAD: With initial backing from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the National Institute for Agriculture and Biology has achieved notable progress in developing salt-tolerant crops and implementing soil management strategies to address soil salinisation.
NIAB has begun extending its expertise to other nations grappling with soil salinisation issues by providing training to their scientists, as reported by the IAEA.
Pakistan has lost approximately 5.7 million hectares of arable land due to salinisation, and this loss is increasing by about 40,000 hectares annually, according to NIAB estimates. High salt levels in the soil hinder crop growth, transforming fertile land into desert-like conditions and threatening food security.
Over the past three years, with support from the IAEA, NIAB has developed and delivered targeted training programs to enhance regional expertise. This effort has included training 21 scientists and soil specialists from Azerbaijan, Burundi, Iraq, Lesotho, and Senegal in advanced isotopic techniques through fellowships and scientific visits.
In addition, NIAB has contributed to the Asia-Pacific region by training 39 members of the regional scientific community in climate-smart agriculture practices. These practices aim to enhance resilience to climate change and promote sustainable agricultural methods.
The initiative underscores NIAB’s commitment to combating soil salinisation and sharing valuable knowledge to help other countries manage and mitigate the effects of this pressing agricultural challenge.
