Integrated Land and Water Resources Management fFor Food Security And Environmental Sustainability in Quetta Region Pakistan

0581667 - ÚI 2024 PK eng A - Abstract
Muhammad, S. - Yaseen, M. - Shahid, S. U. - Latif, Yasir - Abbas, S.
Integrated Land and Water Resources Management fFor Food Security And Environmental Sustainability in Quetta Region Pakistan.
Abstract Book of 4th International Conference on Emerging Trends in Earth & Environmental Sciences (ETEES 2023). Lahore: College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, 2023. s. 50-50.
[ETEES 2023: International Conference on Emerging Trends in Earth & Environmental Sciences /4./. 04.12.2023-06.12.2023, Lahore]
Institutional support: RVO:67985807
Keywords : Food Security * Water Resources * Land Resources * Environmental Sustainability
http://cees.edu.pk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ETEES-2023-CONFERENCE-PROGRAM.pdf

This research highlights the different threats to Quetta district about water scarcity, land degradation and food security. The amount of water and land needed for agriculture today is far less than what is available, yet local shortages are frequent and have a negative influence on food security. The results of the study reveals that the statistical trend of temperature shows an increase from 24.2°C in 1975 to 25.8°C during 2020 with an overall increase of 1.6ºC in the last 45 years. The precipitation represents a considerable decreasing trend. The increasing trend in temperature with a decreasing trend of precipitation autocorrelates during the whole period. Changes in climate have altered local hydrologic cycles and considerably impact on quantity of surface water and recharge of groundwater (GW) resources. From 2005 to 2018, the GW declined from 3-18m in Quetta Valley. Subsequently, the water demand has increased to 139 Mm3. The existing surface water resource in the area is namely Hanna. Water of this lake is highly saline and unfit for any kind of use. The total cropped area irrigated by different means is about 91.3 Km2. The land is irrigated by utilizing dug-wells, tubewells, springs, and Karezes, there is no canal system exists in subbasin. In Balochistan, the agriculture sector is the most prominent among all for water utilization. 53% area is under salinity, 38% non-saline and rest with slight salinity. The Rabi crops production increased from 3000 hectares to in between 3000-4000 hectares of area whereas the Kharif crops production were same as the previous years over less than 9000 hectares of total area. The annual intercensal growth rates during 1998-2017 of Balochistan was 3.4% and for Quetta District 5.8%. The statistical analysis represents that decrease in precipitation and increase in temperature triggers the high ETO rates and reduction in recharge, resulted in depletion of GW levels. Identify the many issues and solutions required in lands with various stresses and qualities. Implement mechanisms for tracking the local state of land and water, connecting user-driven bottom-up participatory evaluations with subnational and basin-wide indicators that may inform policymaking and evaluate policy responses for food security and sustainable development. Increase agricultural production by supplemental irrigation and fertilizers in locations with sufficient biophysical potential for rain-fed agriculture. Priority activities are suggested so they can improve both environmental and food security at the same time. Integrating integrated methods to land and water management, enhancing the enabling environment, expanding the use of good management practices and eco-friendly technology, strengthening of partnerships at the local, national, and international levels and the expansion and acceleration of capacity building initiatives to offer a vehicle for a coordinated response to the challenge of food and environmental security.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0349773