Climate change, water scarcity main challenges to enhance rice output: Shahzad Ali Malik

Chairman Rice Research and Development Board Punjab Shahzad Ali Malik here on Sunday said that challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and pests can affect rice production in Pakistan.

However, hectic efforts must be made on top priority to address these issues through research and development, improved farming practices and policy support to ensure the continued importance and sustainability of rice as a cash crop in the country’s economy, he said while talking to a delegation of plant breeders led by Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad Javed,Chairman Plant Breeding and Genetics Punjab University.

Shahzad Ali Malik said that rice was one of the most important cash crops in Pakistan, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. He said that Pakistan was one of the major exporters of rice in the world as rice exports were playing a crucial role in earning foreign exchange for the country.

He said its cultivation and the associated value chain provide employment opportunities to a significant portion of the rural population in Pakistan.

Farmers, laborers, millers, traders, and exporters are all involved in the rice industry, creating jobs and improving livelihoods, he added. —APP