Chakwal: In a significant step towards modernizing agricultural research and addressing water scarcity in Pakistan’s rain-fed regions, an EC-Flux Tower was inaugurated at the Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chakwal, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The distinguished guest for the event, Ms. Anna Ballance, Senior Climate Lead at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), officially launched the groundbreaking project.
The EC-Flux Tower, equipped with advanced sensors and cutting-edge technology, is designed to continuously measure the exchange of gases and energy between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere. This state-of-the-art system is expected to play a crucial role in tackling water shortages and agricultural challenges in Punjab’s rain-fed areas by providing comprehensive and valuable data.
During the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Country Representative for the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan, delivered the opening remarks. Dr. Mohsin Hafeez, Director of Water, Food, and Ecosystems at IWMI and Project Leader of the WRAP Programme, provided an insightful overview of the project activities. He emphasized how the data gathered from the EC-Flux Tower will aid in improving agricultural productivity and ensuring the optimal use of water resources in arid regions.
Dr. Nadeem Ahmad, Chief Scientist and Director of BARI, highlighted the importance of the collaboration between IWMI and BARI under the WRAP Programme, underscoring the potential impact of the EC-Flux Tower on sustainable agricultural development.
The event also included a field visit to the instrumentation sites led by Dr. Umar Waqas Liaqat, Assistant Team Lead of the WRAP-CRS-IWaG. Attendees had the opportunity to witness firsthand the technology and methodology employed in collecting soil moisture data and guiding irrigation practices.
The EC-Flux Tower has the capability to record data from crops and soil within a radius of 200 to 500 meters, making it a milestone in environmental research for agricultural lands, forests, and pastures. Experts believe this innovative system will provide Pakistan with the necessary tools to analyze climate change effectively, enhance agricultural efficiency, conserve water, and contribute to global environmental sustainability.
As the event concluded with insights from farmers on soil moisture sensor-guided irrigation, participants expressed optimism that the EC-Flux Tower would pave the way for data-driven agricultural practices and sustainable development in Pakistan’s rain-fed regions.