An international seminar on climate smart irrigation and precision agriculture at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi brought together researchers, faculty and students to discuss sustainable water management for Pakistan’s farms. The event, organised by the Center for Precision Agriculture (C4PA) at PMAS-AAUR, centred on supplemental irrigation guided by decision support systems in the face of climate change.

Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor of PMAS-AAUR, stressed the university’s role in turning applied research into practical technologies for water-scarce regions. He highlighted that student-driven research can produce innovative, field-ready solutions that strengthen academic learning while directly benefiting farmers and national food security.

The keynote by Dr. Saad Javed Cheema from the University of Prince Edward Island emphasised the rising importance of digital irrigation monitoring. Dr. Cheema explained how real-time monitoring of evapotranspiration and soil moisture enables precise irrigation scheduling, allowing farmers to apply water only when crops need it and thereby conserve vital water resources.

Speakers outlined how integrating advanced sensors, satellite data and analytics with decision support systems makes Precision Agriculture an essential tool for climate resilience. Such systems not only improve irrigation timing but also reduce input costs and enhance crop productivity across Pakistan’s diverse agroecological zones.

The Center for Precision Agriculture at PMAS-AAUR continues to advance research, training and outreach to promote these technologies. By linking campus research to on-farm demonstration and extension, the centre aims to accelerate adoption of irrigation technology that supports sustainable production and strengthens rural livelihoods under changing climatic conditions.

Participants agreed that strengthening collaborations between students, faculty and international experts will be critical to scale data-driven irrigation solutions nationwide. Precision Agriculture remains central to those efforts as universities and the farming community seek practical pathways to conserve water and boost crop resilience.