Islamabad, Dec 16: Scientists at the Agricultural Research Institute Tarnab (ARIT) in Peshawar have introduced three innovative wheat varieties designed to address the challenges posed by climate change and improve agricultural productivity. These new varieties promise greater climate resilience and can potentially triple yields per acre, offering a solution to the struggling wheat sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The region, which heavily relies on rainfall for agriculture, faces significant challenges due to climate variability. ARIT’s breakthrough wheat seed varieties include one designed for canal-irrigated areas and another for rain-fed regions, which is particularly crucial for the 51% of the province’s agricultural land dependent on rainfall. The newly developed wheat variants aim to increase yields in areas where climate change has led to erratic weather patterns, delaying rainfall and impacting crop yields.
Akhtar Ali, a senior agricultural scientist at ARIT, emphasized that the region’s wheat production is far below the demand, with only 1.4 million tonnes produced annually against a consumption requirement of 5 million tonnes. The introduction of these climate-resilient crops is seen as an essential step to bridge this gap, especially given that the current varieties have seen yields drop significantly due to changing climatic conditions.
In addition to the new seed varieties, ARIT researchers have stressed the importance of modern farming techniques to realize the full potential of these seeds. Altaf Khan, another researcher at ARIT, called for farmers to adopt scientific agricultural practices, as outdated methods have contributed to stagnation in wheat production in the province over the past decade. Between 2015 and 2023, the area under wheat cultivation saw only a slight increase, and yields have remained insufficient, prompting concerns from local farmers about rising production costs.
The new wheat varieties are seen as a much-needed solution, but experts stress the need for government intervention to make farming inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides more affordable to support farmers. Raising awareness about the impacts of climate change on agriculture will also be crucial in helping farmers adapt to the rapidly changing conditions.
The development of these climate-resilient wheat varieties represents a promising step toward addressing food security issues and boosting agricultural productivity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where wheat plays a vital role in the economy and livelihoods of local farmers.
