LAHORE (March 21 2004): Speakers at a seminar on "Water Conservation Technology" have urged the sugarcane growers to adopt latest technology for saving water and slashing production cost.

The seminar was arranged by a sugar mill of Punjab here on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, Olivier Lespine, Export Development Manager of T-Systems Australia said that water shortage is the biggest threat faced by the agriculture sector of various countries of the world.

In order to ensure proper use of water, a number of irrigation techniques are being practised in the world including flood irrigation, sprinkle irrigation and trickle irrigation.

He added that a special water saving technology for agriculture sector is being introduced in the world with the name of T-Tape System, which is a sub branch of drip irrigation system. He was of the view that globally, agriculture is facing a number of problems due to water shortage and raise in production cost.

He claimed that tape irrigation would help a lot in reducing production cost.

Tariq Mehmood Khalil, Marketing Manager of "Rainmakers" said that investment in water saving technology could increase the income level of farmer's community of Pakistan.

Addressing on this occasion, former chairman Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf urged the multinationals dealing in water saving technology to start manufacturing operations in Pakistan besides providing after sales service to the customers.

He further said that government of Pakistan must come forward to create awareness among the farmer community of Pakistan regarding the use of latest water conservation technology.

Courtesy Business Recorder