Our Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: Engr. Noman Latif, Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar has defend his Ph.D thesis on 14th March, 2017 at the Video Conference Hall of UET Peshawar. The topic of his Ph.D thesis was “Development of risk assesment framework for optimizing the system performance of spate irrigated areas in Pakistan”. Prof. Dr. Taj Ali Khan, Chairman Department of Agricultural Engineering, UET Peshawar is the supervisor of Engr. Latif. He presented his research findings through a seminar in public forum session, followed by Viva-Voce examination by the Examination Committee.
Engr. Latif conducted this study in D.I.Khan (Daraban) to identify major risk factors contributing to low crop productivity in spate irrigated areas. He said, mostly the floods take place the northern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which requires careful planning not only on risk reduction, but its management.
Some major risks factors included an excess of availability of water, drought, siltation and diversion system performance which were badly affecting the crop production, loss of social activity and economic outcome. The study recommended that the Government should introduce Risk Reduction Plan and Risk Management Plan at small scale for spate irrigated areas. He further said, the Government should introduce “on-farm management” and train the farmers on its modern techniques.
Prof Dr. Noor Muhamamd Vice Chancellor UET Peshawar said, despite the fact that Pakistan is an agrarian country and possess vast reservoirs of minerals, we have not been able to solve our indigenous problems. The reason is less trained and qualified human resource because of which Pakistan is lagging behind from other developing countries. He urged the researchers to focus on local issues and find reliable solutions through conducting practical research.
