ISLAMABAD: Science and technology was the key to upgrading agriculture and transforming it from low value crops to high value crops, resulting in boosting the economy, a senior government official said.

Addressing the national workshop on “Irrigation Water Management”, organised by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam said that Pakistan’s population was projected to increase to 338 million by 2050, adding that it will have to produce 60 per cent more food to feed its population by then.

To ensure effective implementation of the National Water Policy, it is necessary to match food security requirements of the country with enabling institutions that have a clear roadmap, he said.

Imam said that to meet the challenge of water shortage, it is imperative that the National Water Policy is implemented in its letter and spirit, adding that water institutions of the country need to be empowered to enable them to carry out their fundamental duties.

The minister emphasised that the government was working on improving the irrigation water management through techniques such as drips irrigation system, sprinklers and others.

“[The] agriculture sector was pivotal to transform Pakistan’s economy, as it contributes 19 per cent to GDP of the country and around 38 per cent of the local population [is] involved with the sector.”

The government has prioritised research and mechanisation of the agriculture sector, he said, and expressed the hope that it will prove to be a paradigm shift for the agriculture sector.

He stressed that incorporation of technology was the only way towards a prosperous future and economic development.

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