Multan, August 31, 2024: Under the "Transforming the Indus Basin through Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management" project, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations inaugurated an Eddy Covariance Flux Tower at the Central Cotton Research Institute in Multan on Saturday. This project, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and co-financed by the Punjab and Sindh governments, aims to enhance Pakistan’s ability to monitor, analyse, and share vital climate, water, and agricultural data, which is essential for adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, Secretary Agriculture, and Florence Rolle, FAO Representative in Pakistan jointly led the inauguration ceremony.
The Eddy Covariance Flux Tower, a sophisticated scientific instrument, measures the exchange of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane between the land surface and the atmosphere. The data it collects is vital for understanding carbon fluxes, evapotranspiration, and the energy balance within agricultural ecosystems. This information is crucial for assessing crop health, productivity, water usage efficiency, and the environmental impact of agricultural practices.
During her speech, Florence Rolle emphasized the importance of advanced information systems for effective decision-making amid climate challenges, noting that the installation of the flux tower and other sophisticated tools reflects FAO’s commitment to providing the technology needed for informed decision-making and strengthening farmers' resilience to climate change.
Iftikhar Ali Sahoo highlighted the tower’s role in promoting sustainable agriculture, explaining that the data gathered will help farmers make informed decisions, boost productivity, and mitigate climate change impacts.
The ceremony was attended by key officials, including Malik Muhammad Akram, Director General On-Farm Water Management Punjab; Abdul Hameed, Director General Agriculture Extension and Adaptive Research; Dr. Yusuf Zafar, Vice President of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee; Dr. Ishtiaq A. Rajwana, Vice Chancellor, Mian Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture Multan; Shahzad Sabir, Director Agriculture Extension Multan Division; and Engr. Ashraf Bhatti, Chief Irrigation Multan, Punjab Irrigation Department.
This project represents a collaborative effort between FAO, GCF, and the provincial governments, aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Pakistan’s agriculture sector in the face of growing environmental challenges. Moving forward, the project will continue to focus on enhancing the country’s adaptive capacity through the installation of additional technological instruments and the development of comprehensive data management systems. This is a significant step forward in FAO’s mission to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices across Pakistan