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‘Global warming can affect agricultural ecosystem’

RAWALPINDI: The agricultural ecosystem can collapse due to global warming and associated risks as it is feared that rising temperature can lead to catastrophes like droughts, water shortages, productivity and biodiversity loss across the world, said Dr Tariq Mehmood, University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi’s (UAAR) Department of Environmental Sciences chairman, here on Thursday.

Talking to a delegation of Monsoon Asian Agro-Environmental Research Consortium (MARCO) here, he said 70 percent of the total land of Pakistan was located in arid and semi-arid regions, while droughts and loss of biological productivity were common phenomena in the country.

Mehmood said Pakistan was confronted with environmental deterioration in agro-ecosystem and it may cause change in land use due to contamination of farmlands by chemical pollutants from industries.

The UAAR’s Department of Environmental Sciences has recently joined MARCO. Other members of the consortium are Japan, South Korea, China and India.

The consortium was constituted to conduct result-oriented research to solve environmental problems affecting agriculture and achieve sustainable development by maintaining a sound agro-ecosystem in the monsoon region and dissemination of results to its members for effective natural resource management and policy-making.

Dr Yohei Sato, the MARCO president, appreciated UAAR department for joining the consortium and hoped it would actively participate in research to ensure sustainable agricultural development with conserved environment.

Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Khan, UAAR vice chancellor, congratulated the department for its continuous efforts to gain research excellence in the field of agro-environmental sciences. staff report

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