Faiza Tehseen

Pakistan direly needs to adopt microbial technologies to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce carbon emissions, and degrade ecosystem restoration. Adopting these technologies will help address the adverse impacts of climate change, opined Dr. Riffat Tahira, Principal Scientist at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), while talking exclusively to WealthPK.

“Microbial technologies refer to the use of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and algae, for various environmental tasks like breaking down the organic material, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen fixation. Deployed microorganisms in soil, water, and air help with carbon sequestration, fostering biodiversity, and improved nutrient cycles,” she explained. She said microbial technologies were rapidly popularizing for carbon sequestration and ecological conservation.

The need for nature-based solutions has never been pressing with the growing threat of desertification, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures. Microalgae and cyanobacteria are the organisms that can sequester greenhouse gas CO₂ through bioconversion to organic matter. Dr Riffat said Pakistan was facing climate change impacts in the form of deforestation, land degradation, depleted soils, water scarcity, irregular rainfall, and decreasing agricultural outcrop.

With a large population, the country is highly vulnerable to climate variability. “To mitigate the impacts of climate change, microbial technologies is the ultimate low-cost solution. These technologies provide dual benefits, including improved soil fertility, increased water retention, and enhanced crop yield, even in extreme weather conditions,” she said.

“Besides reducing the greenhouse gases, some microorganisms are helpful in producing a few valuable products including biofuels (bioethanol, biodiesel, and hydrocarbons); chemicals (bioplastics, methanol, formate, formaldehyde, alcohols, and different acids); food, feed and biomaterials. Proper marketing of these materials at national and international levels can fetch a fortune to Pakistan,” she added. She said in recent years, experts in Pakistan were working on various pilot projects and research initiatives concerning the microbial applications.

They are extensively working on exploring the use of soil bacteria, to enhance carbon storage in agricultural lands, especially in desertification-prone areas. In such lands, specific bacterial strains can increase carbon storage in soil to improve fertility. Dr Riffat further told WealthPK that microbial technologies could accelerate mangroves restoration in the coastal regions particularly around the Indus Delta. These technologies must be a part of Pakistan’s broader conservation strategy to rehabilitate the degraded ecosystems.

Talking with WealthPK concerning the use of microbial technologies for carbon sequestration and ecological conservation in Pakistan, Muhammad Akbar, an environmentalist from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), said, “The right course of action for Pakistan, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts, is to adopt innovative microbial technologies, which will help foster a healthier ecosystem and address ecological conservation and carbon sequestration.” He said deforestation and increasing desertification in the country were spoiling the environment and eco-systems.

A little attention from the government is necessary to support in kind initiatives. They are not only important to cope with the climate impacts but to get economic benefits as well. He said, “To popularize microbial technologies in Pakistan, a strategic awareness campaign is necessary. It will enable people and related stakeholders, including farmers to understand the subject and its importance. Always, community involvement in any project is the key to success. The government should consider the urgent need of microbial technologies and their applications in the country.”

Credit: INP-WealthPk