Ghulam Zakir-Hassan
Citation: Zakir-Hassan G. Groundwater-Climatic changes Nexus and Food Security Challenges in Indus Basin of Pakistan. Medp Nutr Food Sci. 2022; 1(1): mpnfs–202211001.
Extended abstract
Food, fiber and shelter are the basic human needs for their existence on the planet, while land, water and air are the essential natural resources to support the life. Pakistan is the 8th largest food producing country and ranks 5th in list of countries by population. Current population of Pakistan is 220 million with annual increasing rate of about 2% (Hassan et al., 2019; Qureshi, 2015). To feed this tremendously increasing population we need to grow more food for which both horizontal and vertical expansion of irrigated agriculture is imperative for Pakistan. An increase of 50% in food, 40% in energy and 30% in water is needed to by 2030 to feed the growing population and support the required economic development in both developed and developing countries (Yang et al., 2016). Agriculture in Indus River Basin (IRB) in Pakistan mainly depends on irrigation where 90% of food grains and almost 100% of cash crops (mainly fruits, vegetables, sugarcane, cotton and rice) are produced from irrigated lands (Ringler & Anwar, 2013). Even then, about forty seven percent of the population of Pakistan is food insecure as well as the access to food is uneven and malnutrition is widespread in the country (Hassan et al., 2017; Kirby et al., 2017). We -need to study the water-food-energy nexus and devise the new ways and means to meet the future challenges. (Yang et al., 2016). River Indus- 2900 km long- is the lifeline for economy of the country as its – along with five tributaries- supports livelihood and food security by providing about 171 km3 of water annually for irrigated agriculture in the basin (Ringler & Anwar, 2013). Schematic diagram of Indus Basin Irrigation System is shown in Figure 1.
Keywords: Food-Security; Irrigated-Agriculture; Groundwater; Punjab; Pakistan
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