In Pakistan’s Hyderabad, storehouse hydroponic farm beats drought, land degradation

In Pakistan’s Hyderabad, storehouse hydroponic farm beats drought, land degradation
Attiq-ur-Rehman Bhayo examines the tomatoes he is growing on a hydroponic farm in Hyderabad, Pakistan, on March 29, 2024. (AN Photo)
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Updated 12 April 2024
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In Pakistan’s Hyderabad, storehouse hydroponic farm beats drought, land degradation

In Pakistan’s Hyderabad, storehouse hydroponic farm beats drought, land degradation
  • Attiq-ur-Rehman Bhayo is using water-based nutrient solution instead of soil to grow tomatoes
  • Shift to urbanization combined with climate change is reducing farmlands in Pakistan, UN official says

HYDERABAD, PAKISTAN: In a large storehouse in the southern Pakistani city of Hyderabad, a 29-year-old entrepreneur is growing tomatoes on a hydroponic farm, defying land degradation, water shortage and power cuts in a country that ranks among the top 10 nations worldwide most affected by climate change.

Attiq-ur-Rehman Bhayo says his solar-powered set-up, in which farming is done in water instead of soil, will provide an urban solution to Pakistan’s agriculture needs as it faces more extreme rainfall, drought and heat waves, crop losses and other worsening threats from climate change.

Instead of soil to grow the tomatoes, Bhayo uses a water-based nutrient solution, coco peat, which is crushed from coconut husks, comes in the form of fine dust or powder and is popular due to its environmental friendliness and sustainability. In hydroponic farming, water is conserved because it is reused multiple times. Hydroponically grown plants also require no pesticides because there are no soil-borne diseases.

Spread over a large 4,000 square feet storehouse, Bhayo’s farm has been registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) since April 2022 and yielded its first produce in January this year. Since its inception, the farm has produced around 100 kilograms of tomatoes and exotic cherry tomato varieties.

Bhayo said his farm is the first solar-powered vertical farm in Pakistan, though there is no official confirmation of this.

“This is controlled environment agriculture based on hydroponic technology. In this system plant roots are submerged in a nutrient-drenched water solution,” Bhayo, the chief executive officer (CEO) and owner of Sulit Agro (Pvt) Ltd, told Arab News.

“Basically, the main difference between this system and the traditional system is yield and the quality of the fruit. As you can see this is a controlled environment so we don’t use any pesticides or fungicides which give us organic produce.”

Bhayo, who comes from a traditional family of farmers in Pakistan’s Sindh province, decided to pursue hydroponic farming while pursuing a Masters of Science degree in Engineering Business Management in the United Kingdom.

On returning to Pakistan in 2018, he set up his farm under the Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme at a cost of Rs20 million.

“URBAN FARMING”

Hydroponic farming offers many benefits, including minimal food wastage as compared to open field cultivation, the prevention of nutrient runoff pollution that endangers livestock, fertilizer conservation, savings in pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, water conservation through closed-loop systems to avoid aquifer depletion, elimination of tilling to save Co2 emissions and protect soil microbes, and high yield in small spaces, Bhayo explained. 

But the primary distinction between hydroponics and traditional farming was yield and fruit quality, the grower said. 

Under the controlled environment of a hydroponic farm, pesticides and fungicides were unnecessary, resulting in organic produce. Additionally, produce could be available year-round compared with soil-based farming, which typically yields tomatoes for only three or four months annually.

Also, with traditional farming, the average yield per plant is 5 to 8 kilograms per season each year, whereas with hydroponics, the yield is year-round with an average of 36 kilograms per plant. If more advanced hydroponic systems are used in a high-tech temperature-controlled environment with special lights, the yield can go up to to 60 kilograms per plant yearly. 

It is for these reasons that vertical farming is gaining momentum in Pakistan, primarily driven by the private sector, with public sector organizations also embracing the modern agricultural approach.

The Soil Salinity and Reclamation Research Institute (SS&RRI), a provincial body established in Sindh’s Tando Jam town, recently carried out experiments using hydroponics. 

“Under the hydroponic system, we experimented with five vegetables, brinjal, chilies, tomatoes and others,” an official at the institute, Jamila Jamro, told Arab News.

In soil-less farming, she said, plants received essential elements without toxic additions like arsenic and cadmium, making the fruits healthier than those that came from field crops.

“We recommend indoor farming over traditional field farming,” Jamro said.

She said the institute’s future plan was to expand its research to major crops such as rice and wheat, for which it would identify salt-tolerant varieties.

“FUTURE SOLUTION”

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, 70 percent of which will be living in urban areas mainly in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

Against this background, the FAO has been supporting the transformation of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) into a recognized urban land use and economic activity, integrated into national and local agricultural development strategies as well as food and nutrition programs and urban planning, a Sindh-based FOA official, James Robert Okoth, explained.

He told Arab News the social shift toward urbanization in Pakistan, combined with climate change which was reducing available farmland, had spotlighted the importance of urban farming to enhance food security and availability in communities.

“Urban farming is important for Pakistan, especially in Sindh province, as the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident,” Okoth said. “There is considerable land degradation, and much of the groundwater is becoming brackish, limiting crop options in these areas.”

Urban farming allows for intensification within a small area, enabling the cultivation of diverse, nutritious vegetables, as well as creating employment opportunities, the FOA official added.

Bhayo agrees and hopes the idea will catch on.

After having successfully established his farm, the entrepreneur now offers consultancy on greenhouse technology to others intending to set up similar farms.

“The response is that people are most likely scared whether they will get a return from this huge investment or not,” he said, adding that government support to scale hydroponic farms, through loans and knowledge transfer, was the way forward. 

“This will provide them [farmers] a good opportunity to invest in this system,” Bhayo said. “Once you stabilize the system, there are minimum requirements to maintain the system.”
 


UAE consul-general in Karachi releases green turtle hatchlings into Arabian Sea

UAE consul-general in Karachi releases green turtle hatchlings into Arabian Sea
Updated 09 November 2024
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UAE consul-general in Karachi releases green turtle hatchlings into Arabian Sea

UAE consul-general in Karachi releases green turtle hatchlings into Arabian Sea
  • The babies were released during a ceremony to spread awareness about preservation of the endangered species
  • Increasing construction, noise, pollution and exhaust fumes in the port city have greatly threatened green turtles

KARACHI: United Arab Emirates (UAE) Consul-General Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi on Friday released green turtle hatchlings into the Arabian Sea off the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, in a bid to spread awareness about their preservation
The endangered green turtles come to shore to lay eggs on beaches in Karachi and on uninhabited islands in the neighboring Balochistan province, however, increasing construction, noise and pollution and exhaust fumes in the port city have greatly threatened the species.
The provincial wildlife department of the Sindh province, which Karachi is a part of, on Friday arranged a ceremony to release these endangered hatchlings into the Arabian Sea, which was attended by the UAE consul-general and young school students.
“The departure of green turtle babies into the sea was a sight to behold. Pakistan’s beaches are rich in natural beauty, but some steps are necessary,” he told reporters.
“Visitors coming for recreation here must dispose of plastic shopping bags responsibly instead of throwing them away. These shopping bags are destroying the environment of green turtles.”
Female green turtles visit the coastal areas of Karachi for breeding from mid-August till mid-February every year, according to the Sindh wildlife department.
So far, 450 green turtles, up to one or two days old, have been released into the sea this season.


Thousands rally in Pakistan’s northwest to press for release of ex-PM Imran Khan

Thousands rally in Pakistan’s northwest to press for release of ex-PM Imran Khan
Updated 09 November 2024
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Thousands rally in Pakistan’s northwest to press for release of ex-PM Imran Khan

Thousands rally in Pakistan’s northwest to press for release of ex-PM Imran Khan
  • Khan’s party has lately held several rallies to demand his release as well as to oppose recent controversial legislations and constitutional changes
  • The party says its protests are meant to ensure the rule of constitution, democratic rights and independence of judiciary in the South Asian country

PESHAWAR: Thousands of supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday gathered in the northwestern Pakistani town of Swabi to demand the release of the former premier, amid a campaign by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party to get him out of prison and oppose recent “controversial” constitutional changes in the country.
Cavalcades of Khan supporters made their way to Swabi from various parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, where Khan’s PTI party rules, and elsewhere in the country.
The PTI has held several rallies in Pakistan in recent months to mount pressure on authorities to get the ex-premier, who has been in jail since August last year on a slew of charges, out of prison.
The rally was attended by several PTI leaders, including KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Omar Ayub Khan, Asad Qaisar and PTI chairman Gohar Khan.
“Even if our lives are gone, we will take a sigh only when Imran Khan is released,” Gandapur told the attendees in Swabi. “Imran Khan has ordered that he is going to call us in the month of November. We will not return until we get Imran Khan released.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party supporters attend a rally in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on November 9, 2024. (Photo courtesy: X/@PTIOfficial)

PTI Chairman Gohar promised to continue their struggle for the release of Khan.
“We believe in the rule of law and according to the constitution of Pakistan, the change will come from within Pakistan,” he said, denying that his party sought support from the West for Khan’s release.
“Hopefully, the release of Imran Khan will be made possible from here [Swabi], according to the constitution and law of Pakistan.”
Khan, arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, was ousted from office after a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022 and has since waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the country’s powerful military and the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government, which Khan’s party says rigged the Feb. 8 general election and formed a government with the backing of the army. Both deny the charge.
The PTI has recently held a number of public gatherings, some without permission from authorities, for Khan’s release as well as to oppose controversial legislations and constitutional changes that extended the tenure of military services chiefs and granted lawmakers the authority to nominate the chief justice of Pakistan, who previously used to be automatically appointed according to the principle of seniority.
The opposition and the legal fraternity have also opposed the amendments, arguing that they were aimed at granting more power to the executive in making judicial appointments and curtailing the independence of the judiciary. The government denies this.
Gohar announced at the rally that the PTI and its ally in the National Assembly, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party, would file a petition against the controversial amendments in the Supreme Court.


48th case of polio reported this year amid deepening Pakistan virus crisis

48th case of polio reported this year amid deepening Pakistan virus crisis
Updated 09 November 2024
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48th case of polio reported this year amid deepening Pakistan virus crisis

48th case of polio reported this year amid deepening Pakistan virus crisis
  • The wild poliovirus type-1 was detected in a male child in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
  • This year, 23 cases have been reported in Balochistan, 13 in Sindh, 10 in KP and one each in Punjab and Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday reported another case of polio virus that took the nationwide count to 48 this year, the country’s polio program said.
The regional laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health Islamabad has confirmed the Wild Poliovirus Type-1 (WPV1) in a male child from Dera Ismail Khan district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Dera Ismail Khan is among the polio-endemic districts in southern KP and this is the third polio case from the district this year, according to the Pakistan polio program.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the child is under process,” the polio program said in a statement.
So far, 23 cases have been reported in Balochistan, 13 in Sindh, 10 in KP and one each in Punjab and the federal capital of Islamabad.
“The oral polio vaccine is essential to keep children protected from disability from a polio infection,” the statement read.
“We urge parents across the country to ensure multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine for all children under five in their care and ensure that their routine vaccination doses are also complete.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains an endemic. Since late 2018, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases and increased spread of poliovirus, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding three years.


Government to slash winter power tariffs to spur demand, cut gas use in Pakistan

Government to slash winter power tariffs to spur demand, cut gas use in Pakistan
Updated 09 November 2024
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Government to slash winter power tariffs to spur demand, cut gas use in Pakistan

Government to slash winter power tariffs to spur demand, cut gas use in Pakistan
  • The move is expected to provide relief to businesses and citizens, who have suffered from steep and sudden increases in tariffs
  • Utilities in Pakistan, many of which have had to curtail or even cease operations in winter, will also benefit from the move

KARACHI: Pakistan will reduce electricity tariffs during winter in a bid to boost consumption and cut the use of natural gas for heating, its power minister told Reuters on Saturday.
The move is expected to provide relief to businesses and citizens, who have suffered from steep and sudden increases in electricity tariffs following energy sector reforms suggested by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Utilities in Pakistan, many of which have had to curtail or even completely cease operations in winter months due to demand dropping by up to 60 percent from peak summer levels, will also benefit from the move.
“Reducing prices will increase demand, especially in winter when people use inefficient gas resources,” Power Minister Awais Leghari told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Pakistan will pilot the plan starting this winter, and the lower tariffs will apply between December 2024 to February 2025, he said.
The IMF, which approved a $7 billion, 37-month loan for Pakistan in September, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pakistan relies heavily on expensive natural gas and burning wood for heating during winter.
Power consumption in Pakistan has declined 8-10 percent year on year over the past three quarters, Leghari said. But he said he hopes that an economic recovery will cover up for lost ground and will help boost demand by a net average 2.8 percent annually over the next ten years.
Leghari expects the move to slash winter tariffs to help industries reduce electricity costs by 7-8 percent at an optimal level, while stimulating industrial growth in the process.
Leghari also said the government is working to rationalize power tariffs, re-profile power sector debt and adjust tax structures within electricity bills.
“The government is in talks with development partners to reduce taxes to spur growth of electric vehicles and combating the emergent problem of air pollution, promoting a shift away from combustion-based transportation toward clean energy,” he said.


‘Peace and comfort’: Pakistani academic finds home and harmony in Saudi Arabia

‘Peace and comfort’: Pakistani academic finds home and harmony in Saudi Arabia
Updated 09 November 2024
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‘Peace and comfort’: Pakistani academic finds home and harmony in Saudi Arabia

‘Peace and comfort’: Pakistani academic finds home and harmony in Saudi Arabia
  • Muhammad Tanveer moved to the Kingdom in 2002 after he was offered an opportunity to teach in Saudi Arabia
  • He has gone on to become a school principal, but also calls himself a ‘Saudi’ after having spent 22 years there

ISLAMABAD: With just eight years of experience, Muhammad Tanveer, a Pakistani academic, moved to Saudi Arabia in 2002 after he was offered an opportunity to teach in the Kingdom.
Since then, Tanveer has not only gone on to become the principal of Pakistan International School Riyadh’s English section, but also found his home in the diverse Saudi society.
Tanveer, who is skilled in curriculum development, compliance management, administration and policy development, says he has become a “Saudi” after having spent 22 years in the Kingdom and is very much impressed by its culture.
“To contribute to the Saudi education process while living in Saudi Arabia has a great feeling of satisfaction. There are many countries where there are facilities, but Saudi Arabia is one of those few countries, where there is peace,” he said in a video shared by the Saudi media ministry on X on Friday.
“As an expat, I would say that I love Saudi Arabia and I love being a resident of Saudi Arabia for all the peace and comfort and protection that [the Saudi] society provides me.”
Saudi Arabia is home to more than 2 million Pakistani expatriates, who are a vital source of remittances to the South Asian country. The Kingdom regularly seeks skilled workers from Pakistan and both nations share strong cultural, economic and defense relations.
The Pakistani academic says he was always ambitious about excelling in his field and his motivation increased manifolds when he got an opportunity to teach in Saudi Arabia. Apart from the Saudi capital, he loves traveling to other beautiful places in the Kingdom, including Abha and Tabuk.
“My favorite place apart from Riyadh is Abha. It is a very beautiful place, every summer, it’s a magnificent place, weather is really great, so I love Abha. Similarly, Tabuk is very beautiful, Tabuk’s valleys are very beautiful,” he said.
“It is very touching to be part of the Saudi society, because the love, the cooperation and the support found in the Saudi society, I could not imagine it both individually and as a professional.”