The experts, in a three day climate change adaptation and water management training, emphasized on the need for adaptive measures which includes rain water conservation and harvesting techniques, better on farm water management.

A three-day, technical training on 'Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management for Small Holder Farmers of KP’, held here was organized with the support of the U.S. Mission in Pakistan, was held at the University of Peshawar. The training was organized by The Fulbright Program alumna Dr. Bushra Khan. A total of sixty participants including farmers, agriculture research officers and students of farming families from five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated in this training. The five main agriculture districts included Peshawar, Nowshera, Charssada, Mardan and Swabi. The training focal person was Dr. Ishaq Mian of Agriculture University.

 Farmer representative of KP have noticed climate and reduction in water availability in the past 20 year which they feared will ultimately affect the crops production in the agriculture intensive region of the provinces. 

In the interactive sessions the farmers informed that they have felt the climate impact in the form of increase temperature and reduction in water availability due to erratic weather pattern. Untimely rains coupled with longer summer and shorter winter is adversely affecting agriculture productivity. The change in climate pattern also  increase their input cost for crop production including more use of fertilizers, pesticides, purchase of seeds and more electricity cost for watering the crops, the farmers informed. The current climate trend has affected the crop productivity in the KP. The farmers have requested the authorities to help them to cope with the situation before it gets worsened.

The experts, in a three day climate change adaptation and water management training, emphasized on the need for adaptive measures which includes rain water conservation and harvesting techniques, better on farm water management.

The training introduced the participants to several techniques to upgrade their knowledge for better agricultural productivity, water management, agricultural sanitation and hygiene, and climate change resilience, adaption and mitigation measures. 

The expert briefed the participants about various varieties of the locally produce seeds and have recommended that locally developed seeds can stand well against the impact of climate change. The experts emphasized on the joint role of government, academia, international organizations to help the small holder farmers to minimize the effects of climate change.

Lectures were delivered by Prof. Dr. Hizbullah Khan, Prof. Dr. Tahir Sarwar, Dr. Ishaq Mian, Dr. Saeeda Yousaf, Dr. Shahla Nazneen, Dr. Mamoona Wali, Dr. Naveedullah, Dr. Gulzar. Dean faculty of   Life and Environmental   Sciences Prof. Dr. Bashir AHmad and DG PFI Hakim Shah were Chief guests at the concluding. Prof. Dr. Nasir Jamal Khattak delivered welcome address and interacted with the participants.