BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

This volume discusses the need to adopt Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) practices to address the increasing global impact that climate change has on agricultural productivity and agriculture-dependent communities. This approach applies technological, policy and economic measures to achieve sustainable agricultural growth in the sectors of grain, fruit, vegetable, fiber, feed, livestock, fisheries and forestry, with the ultimate goal of adapting and building resilience to climate change. The book also uses GIS, crop modeling and remote sensing techniques for future climate resilience applications in agriculture, and covers pest control measures that avoid the use of pesticides to boost crop and livestock productivity for improved food security. The book will be of interest to researchers and students in environmental science, climate science, sustainability and agriculture, as well as policy makers and environmental organizations. 

Dr. Wajid Nasim Jatoi is working as Associate Professor in the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), Bahawalpur, Pakistan. He has also served Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Pakistan for about 7 years including his service as Head of the Department. DR. Wajid has vast experience of almost 13 years in the field of Climate Change and Crop Simulation Modeling. He is PI or Co-PI in at least 7 national and international projects related to crop simulation modeling which have either been completed or in progress. He has more than 50 international publications in the relevant field. The title of his PhD research was “Modeling the impact of climate change on nitrogen use efficiency in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under different agro-climatic conditions of Punjab-Pakistan”. He has also completed his two Post-Doctorates from Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Mediterraneennes (CIHEAM)-Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier, France and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Ecosystems Sciences and Sustainable Agriculture Flagship.

Dr. Muhammad Mubeen has been working as Assistant Professor in Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Pakistan since 2014. He has an ample background in the related field. He was awarded HEC Indigenous Scholarship to complete his PhD, the title of which was “Simulating the effect of different irrigation regimes on autumn-sown maize using CSM- CERES-Maize model”. He has published about 50 research papers in relevant fields in national and international journals.  He is PI and Co-PI in at least 8 national and international projects (relevant to Climate Change and Crop Simulation Modeling) which are either completed, in progress or submitted.

Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad is working as Professor in the Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), Pakistan. He has experience of about 25 years in the relevant field. He is Focal Person of Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (CAS-AFS), UAF. He has served as Director, External Linkages in UAF for about 4 years. He has acted as a Focal Person for Re-defining of Agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in Punjab-Pakistan. He has established a climate/Electronic Lab as well as a Climate Change Cell in the university. He has also established Agricultural Information Systems Laboratory at Community PARS for building Provincial capacity of Crop Reporting Service of Punjab – Pakistan for Crop Estimation, Forecasting and Reporting based on the integral use of Remotely sensed Data (GCP/Pak/125USA) funded by USDA being executed by FAO, in 2013.

Dr. Mumtaz Cheema is working as Professor and Associate Vice President Research and Graduate Studies (Interim), Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He is also President Elect of Canadian Society of Agronomy, serving as editor of “Agriculture” and editing few special issues. His research interests include developing productive and sustainable cropping systems to enhance soil quality and health, nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas mitigation, and adaptation strategies through best management practices (crop rotation/cover crops, biochar, NIs, BNIs) in boreal climate. He has published more than 125 peer-review papers in relevant field. He is a member of several provincial and national committees on agriculture and climate change. 

Prof. Lin Zhaohui is working as professor and director of international Center for climate and environment sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the coordinating council of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Developmentin the South (COMSATS), and also serving as deputy editor-in-chief of “Climatic and Environmental Research” Journal. His research interests include the development of Earth system model, seasonal climate and hydrological forecasts, atmosphere-land-hydrology interaction, dust aerosol and its interaction with climate, and has published more than 140 peer-review papers in relevant field. He has received many scientific awards, inlcuding the State Natural Science Award in 2005, the Award for Progress of Science and Technology by the Ministry of Education in 2006, and the outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize of the CAS in 2011.

Dr. Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering in the Department of Chemistry at COMSATS University Islamabad Campus, Pakistan. Dr. Hashmi works on multiple water, soil, air and health related issues, and has expertise in developing environmentally sustainable and feasible technologies.