Arooj Zulfiqar

Amid escalating climate challenges, experts are increasingly advocating for a transition to vertical hydroponic agriculture as a sustainable method of food production in Pakistan. Speaking to WealthPK, Muhammad Adnan Aslam, a senior scientific officer at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), mentioned that Pakistan, which is known for its fertile lands supporting a diverse range of crops, was facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change issues. "The melting glaciers and erratic rainfall patterns have worsened water scarcity, which has made traditional farming methods difficult to sustain. Moreover, rapid urbanisation has led to a reduction in arable land, making it necessary to explore innovative approaches to ensure food security." "In response to these challenges, vertical hydroponic agriculture can play a transformative role.

This modern farming technique involves growing crops in vertically stacked layers without soil, relying on nutrient-rich water solutions instead. The controlled environment of vertical hydroponic systems provides several benefits over conventional farming," he explained. Aslam said avoiding crop loss was one of the most challenging aspects of farming. "Extreme weather, pest swarms, pollution, and soil degradation concerns are all difficult to fight against with conventional farming practices." He said as vertical farms didn't require soil they were not limited to a single site. "Plants can instead grow in a hydroponically controlled environment instead of traditional soil, and where water is continuously recycled, contributes toward eco-friendly practices by using less water than field farming and no pesticides," he said.

The NARC scientist added: "The advantage of vertical farming over the traditional one is that it does not require sunlight. Whereas traditional farms' growing cycles are controlled by seasonal changes in temperature and sunlight, indoor vertical farms use energy-efficient LED lights to provide their own light source all year." "Vertical hydroponic agriculture presents a promising solution for Pakistan's agricultural sector, especially in the context of water scarcity and climate variability," said M Hanif, another senior scientific officer at NARC. "One of the best advantages of vertical farming is that it uses very little water, and has the potential to save us from global starvation. Pakistan uses almost 90% of its water for agriculture. The traditional method of agriculture requires a lot of water to irrigate crops as farmers flood their fields, which means wastage of water," he said.

"But in hydroponics, we can give crops the exact amount of purified, nutrient-rich water they need to thrive in a controlled, indoor setting. When compared to field-grown crops, our irrigation technology recirculates water constantly, resulting in significant water savings," he added. "The controlled environment of vertical hydroponic systems protects against extreme weather events, ensuring stable crop production throughout the year despite climate variability," he said. "While hydroponics is currently practiced in some areas of Pakistan, wider implementation can lead to significant foreign exchange earnings," he added. Meanwhile, speaking at a seminar titled "Climate Change and Impacts on National Security of Pakistan", Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, highlighted the significance of transitioning from flooded irrigation to vertical hydroponic agriculture farm mechanisation. According to him, genetically modified crops can help tackle water wastage, food and climate issues. He also suggested that the government should permit market drivers to reset cropping patterns and encourage farmers to adopt cropping techniques based on the agro-ecological zones.

Credit: INP-WealthPk