Pakistan

Pakistan has been an ACIAR partner country since 1984. Increasing pressure on availability of water resources for irrigation exists due to competing demands from urban and industrial uses. Soil and water salinity and drainage problems are placing additional pressure on irrigated agriculture. Given the similarity of some of its own water resource and salinity issues, Australia is well placed to assist Pakistan in addressing these issues. ACIAR’s program continues to focus on irrigation, drainage and salinity management in the major cropping systems.

In addition, there is recognition that Australia has skills for working with some of Pakistan’s key horticultural crops, especially citrus and mangoes, the two most important tree crops. Australian expertise can provide a whole-of-system approach to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the mango and citrus industries, encompassing all steps from fruiting to market. Pakistan is also one of the world’s largest milk producers, with slightly less than half of that production being from dairy cattle. Unit animal production is very low although genetic potential is quite good. Major opportunities exist for applying Australian expertise in animal nutrition and integrating forage production into farming systems to assist in improving milk production. This work is a key to poverty reduction, particularly for some of Pakistan’s landless people. The geographic focus in ACIAR’s Pakistan program, including work carried out under the support of the ASLP, is on Punjab, Sindh and North-West Frontier provinces.