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Inculcating ICTs for climate-resilient agriculture amid climate variability

21 0
19.04.2025

Pakistan’s priorities include managing its overall agricultural sector including water crisis, food security, and economic stability, given its high susceptibility to climate change impacts.

In recent times, unpredictable weather patterns have been caused by climate variability, resulting in extreme temperatures, floods, droughts, and fluctuating monsoon cycles.

Pakistan’s economy is under significant threat from unpredictable climate fluctuations, particularly its agricultural industry, which engages almost 40% of the workforce and is a major contributor to the country’s GDP.

However, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to play a vital role in mitigating the impact of climate change. Pakistan can enhance its agricultural productivity, ensure food self-sufficiency and increase its ability to withstand climate change by leveraging ICTs.

Over the last 30 years, Pakistan has witnessed a rise in climate variability. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reports, the occurrence of severe weather events, including floods, droughts and heat waves, has been increasing. In the year 2022, widespread flooding ravaged large areas of the country resulting in the displacement of millions of people and causing significant damage to farmland, dwellings and public infrastructure.

Another devastating disaster struck in 2010, including a significant portion of the nation. Climate events exert significant influence not only on agricultural output but also on food security access to water and rural resident’s living standards. Pakistan’s agricultural sector is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, with anticipated crop yield decreases resulting from increasing temperatures and unpredictable precipitation patterns, as reported by the World Bank.

Wheat and rice, two of Pakistan’s staple crops, are particularly vulnerable to risk. The Indus River Basin’s water availability is........

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