An international seminar on Climate-Smart Irrigation and Precision Agriculture at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi brought researchers, faculty and students together to discuss sustainable water management. Organized by the Center for Precision Agriculture (C4PA) under the theme of supplemental irrigation through decision support systems, the event emphasized practical solutions for Pakistan’s water-scarce farming regions.
Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR, underlined the university’s role in developing applied technologies that directly benefit farmers. He highlighted that student-driven research initiatives are a vital source of innovative, practical solutions that can strengthen academic learning while improving agricultural productivity and national food security.
The keynote address by Dr. Saad Javed Cheema, an agricultural engineer from the University of Prince Edward Island, focused on the growing role of digital irrigation monitoring systems. He explained how real-time monitoring of evapotranspiration and soil moisture enables precise irrigation scheduling so farmers can apply water exactly when and where crops need it.
Dr. Cheema described how data-driven irrigation supported by decision support systems conserves scarce water resources and enhances crop resilience to climate variability. Integrating advanced sensors, satellite inputs and analytics into a unified decision support framework allows farmers to make timely and evidence-based irrigation decisions, lowering input costs and improving yields.
Other speakers reinforced that precision agriculture is increasingly essential in the face of climate change, as it combines sensors, digital tools and analytics to optimize farm management. The seminar highlighted both technical pathways and the importance of training and outreach so farmers can adopt these technologies across Pakistan’s diverse agroecological zones.
The Center for Precision Agriculture at PMAS-AAUR continues to advance precision agriculture through research, capacity building and field engagement. By promoting decision support systems and student-led projects, the center seeks to scale water-smart practices that improve resource efficiency, boost productivity and support long-term food security in Pakistan.
