Rice production faces sustainability challenges

ISLAMABAD: While rice cultivation area has increased by 29 per cent over the last 10 years, expanding production faces sustainability challenges, primarily due to its significant environmental impacts, particularly concerning carbon emissions and water usage, reveals a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The report, “Transitioning to Low-Carbon, Resilient Rice Production in Pakistan”, published in ‘Development Asia’ says the traditional practice of continuously flooding rice paddies creates a low-oxygen environment in soil...