By Asim Shahzad
OKARA– British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott on Thursday inaugurated a modern farming system in Okara aimed at helping farmers conserve water, cut costs, and improve crop productivity.
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The initiative, part of a UK-funded programme promoting climate-smart farming, features the Eddy Covariance Flux Tower, which records real-time data on water, carbon, methane, and energy exchanges between farmland and the atmosphere. According to experts, the system is already assisting the Punjab Irrigation Department in managing water more efficiently while helping the Ministry of Climate Change prepare stronger greenhouse gas emission reports.
During her visit, Marriott also inspected soil moisture sensors being introduced to local farmers. These low-cost devices guide farmers on exactly when and how much to irrigate, reducing both water and electricity usage while boosting yields. Farmers said the tools had lowered their expenses and improved harvests.
“It is no longer enough to react after crises; we must act now to build resilience. What we see here in Okara is exactly that — UK and Pakistan working together on practical, science-driven solutions,” Marriott said.
The visit comes as floods continue to devastate parts of Pakistan, underlining the urgency of evidence-based planning. Dr Mohsin Hafeez, Director for Water, Food & Ecosystem at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), stressed that Pakistan must move away from “reactive crisis management” toward long-term, science-driven strategies.
He explained that data from the flux tower, combined with satellite information, will provide more precise national estimates of water use, carbon balance, and methane emissions, aiding policy-making on climate change.
Marriott later met male and female farmers who shared how the new technology had transformed their practices, enabling better water use, higher productivity, and lower input costs. The event concluded with the High Commissioner planting a tree to symbolize her support for sustainable farming in Pakistan.
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