PotentialofnewAustralianoldmansaltbushvarietiestofillruminantfeed-gapsinaridandsalineareasofPakistan

(Finalreport,ACIARprojectLPS/2016/022,June12019)

HayleyNorman(CSIROAgricultureandFood)andEdBarrett-Lennard(MurdochUniversity)Hayley.Norman@csiro.au.

1 Project background and scope: Smallruminantproductionisamajorsourceofincometosmallholdersintheirrigated,rainfedandsemi-aridareasofPakistan.LikemuchofsouthernAustralia,oneofthemajorconstraintstoruminantproductionisthepatternandscarcityofrainfall,leadingtoseasonalnutrientgaps.Salinityandshallowwater-tablesareadditionalthreatstoagricultureinsouthernAustraliaandPakistan(whereitisestimatedthat25%ofirrigatedlandisimpactedbysalinity).Drought-andsalt-tolerantperennialshrubsfromtheChenopodiaceaefamily,suchassaltbushes(Atriplexspp.),offeranopportunitytouselandandwaterresourcesthataretoosalineoraridfortraditionalcropsandforages.Saltbushescanplayacriticalrolewithinlivestocksystemsasadietarycomplementtopoor-qualitycropresidues.PreviousAustralianCentreforInternationalAgriculturalResearch(ACIAR)fundedresearchhasdemonstratedthatseveralsaltbushspeciescanpersistinsalinesoilsinPakistan.

InthepastdecadetherehasbeenasignificantresearcheffortinAustraliatoimprovethefeedingvalue,palatabilityandgrowthofoldmansaltbush(Atriplexnummularia),anAustraliannative.Thisspeciesistolerantofbothsalinityandaridity.ThefirstcultivarfromacohortofelitematerialwasreleasedbyCSIROunderthenameAnamekaTMin2014.Todateithasbeensuccessfulandadoptedbyover170producersacrosssouthernAustralia.Theselectedgenotypeshavesignificantlyhigherenergyvalues,growthratesandrelativepalatability(tosheep)thantheaveragesaltbushinthecollectionfromacrossAustralia.Pre-experimentalsystems-modellingwasusedtoidentifyimprovedenergy(digestibilityoforganicmatter)asacriticaltrait,astheshrubsareusedtocomplementpoorqualitycropandpastureresiduesinsummerandautumn.

TheaimofthisscopingstudywastoexploretheopportunitytoimprovethelivelihoodsofsmallholdersinaridandsalineareasofPakistanthroughtheintroductionoftheAnamekaTMoldmansaltbushvarieties(Theoriginalclonesandselectedseedlines)fromAustralia.Wehaveassessedtheoutcomesofprevioussaltbushintroductions,investigatedthevariousrolesofsaltbushwithinfarmingsystemsandidentifiedresearchersandNGO’swithinPakistanwhocouldpartnerinfuturesaltbushevaluationandextensionactivities.Theopportunityforwomentoleadsaltbushpropagationbusinesseswasconsidered.Ourfinalaimwastoseektolinksaltbushseed,propagationandmachinerybusinessesinAustraliawithcounterpartsinPakistan.

2 Summary of outcomes of this project: Theprimarygoaloftheproject,togettheAustralianAnamekaTMsaltbushcultivartoPakistanforfutureresearchandadoptionopportunities,wasachieved.Theprocesswasnotstraightforward,andtheplantsandseeddidnotgettotheUniversityofAgricultureinFaisalabad(UAF)untilSeptember2018.SeventeenAnamekaTMplantssurvivedthephytosanitarymeasuresandtransportdelays.

TheseplantsarebeinggrownattheUAFasafuturesourceofgermplasmforin-countryexperiments.DrEdBarrett-LennardhasundertakenthreetripstoPakistantotalkabouttheshrubswithscientistsfromtheNationalAgriculturalResearchCentre(NARC),PakistanAgriculturalResearchCouncil(PARC)andotherkeyinstitutions.Fromthesediscussions,itisclearthereisaroleforhighnutritionalvaluesaltbushforsalineandaridlandinPakistan.DrBarrett-LennardhasbeenworkingwiththeACIARsalinityteamtobetterunderstandtheopportunitiesfortheseplantsinsalt-affectedfarmingsystems.WorkconductedbyDrRebeccaDoyleandDrAngusCampbell’sACIARSmallRuminantresearchteamsdemonstratesthatthereisaneedforanenergyandproteinsupplementforsmallruminantsinthePunjabregion.ThereisnodoubtthisneedismoreacuteinthearidareasofBalochistan.BasedonemergingresearchinAustralia,wesuggestthatthesaltbushesmayalsoplayasignificantroleinimprovinghealthandproductivityofsmallruminants,especiallythosethatareyoungorreproducing.Saltbushesarearichsourceofantioxidantsandmineralsthatarecriticalforthemetabolicpathwaysinmammalsthatreduceoxidativestressduringhotconditions.TheopportunityforAnamekaTMsaltbushisforsaline(butnotwaterlogged)fields,aridareaswheresheepandgoatspersistonpoor-qualitycropresiduesandinmarginallandadjacenttovillages.Othersaltbushspecies(forexampleAtriplexamnicola)arebettersuitedtoareasthatareregularlywaterloggedandinundated.

Duetotherestrictionsandtimetakentoimportandestablishtheshrubs,wewerenotbeenabletogenerateplantstosetupfieldexperiments.However,theplantsshouldbeavailablefornewprojectssuchasDrDoyle’snewACIARproject‘EnhancingsmallruminantproductiontobenefitfarmingfamiliesinSindhandPunjab,Pakistan’andthesalinityproject,iffunded.WedevelopedtheoutlineforatrainingprogramforkeyPakistaniresearcherstoWesternAustralia.TheaimwouldbetoexposetraineestotheactivitiesandwealthofknowledgeheldbytheAustralianresearch,farmingandcommercialnurserycommunities.

3 Project Activities:

3.1 Activity 1. Desktop review of local and Australian literature and the previous ACIAR saltbush projects in Pakistan. Describe what has been done, conduct a meta-analysis of previous research outcomes

ThereviewispresentedinAppendix1.Insummary;

InterventionstoimproveagriculturalproductioninPakistanwillassisttoalleviatepovertyandinterventionsthataddresssmallruminantproductionwilldirectlybenefitwomen.In2013,itwasestimatedthatmorethan20%ofthepopulationofPakistanliveonlessthanUS$1.25adayandhavelimitedaccesstobasicservices.Agricultureemploysover44%ofthepopulationandaccountsfor60%ofexportearnings.GrowthinagricultureinPakistanhasthepotentialtobefourtimesmoreeffectiveinalleviatingpovertythangrowthinnon-agriculturesectors.Inaddition,upto70%ofallwomeninPakistanareemployedinagriculture,manyworkingwithsmallruminantsatasubsistencelevel.Improvementsinagriculture,particularlyimprovementsassociatedwithsmallruminantproduction,willbenefitruralwomen.

SalinityandaridityaremajorproblemsinPakistan.LackofrainfallisthebiggestconstrainttoagricultureinPakistan.Almost87%ofPakistanhasaclimatethatisextremelyaridtosemi-arid(<200mmannualrainfall).Climatechangeandassociatedsealevelrisearethreats.Salinityand

shallowwater-tablesconstrainproductioninirrigatedareas.Dependingonthesource,itisestimatedthat25to33%ofirrigatedlandisimpactedbysalinityandapproximately1.4millionhectareshavenowbeenabandoned.RecentworkinAustraliahasfocussedonhowtocharacterisethecapabilityofsalineland.Itisnowrecognisedthatsalinityandwaterloggingbothconstrainthegrowthandsurvivalofplantsindifferentways.Thecombinedeffectsaredevastatingtothemajorityofplants.Landcapabilityandthemanagementofsurfacewatermustbeconsideredaspartofthepackageinplant-basedinterventionsforsalineland.

Livestockareamajorsourceofincomeinirrigated,rain-fed,aridandsemi-aridareasofPakistanandfeedgapslimitsmallruminantproductionsystems.Intheirrigatedareas,salinityisimpactingonfarmers’abilitytogrowforage(andcropresidues).Outofthetotalareaofsemi-aridBalochistan,21millionha(~60%)oflandisusedforgrazingsmallruminants.Pakistanhastwoperiodsofacutefodderdeficiencyoneinsummerandtheotherinwinter,andruminantstypicallyloseconditionandsometimesperishduringtheseperiods.Overgrazingofrangelandsandsemi-aridareashasledtoadeclineinspeciesdiversityandforagequality.Inaddition,expansionofdrylandfarmingintomarginalareasandtheuseoftreesandshrubsforhouseholdfuelhasledtoadeclineinthenaturalresourcebase.Typically,womenareresponsibleforfeedingsmallruminantsandhaveavestedinterestinfeed-baseinterventions.

PreviousandcurrentsaltbushresearchinPakistanyieldscriticalinformationtoinformfutureactivities.Therehavebeenaseriesofprojectsthathaveexploredtheuseofdroughtandsalttolerantforages,particularlysaltbush(Atriplex)species.FromthetwoACIARprojectsinthe1990’swelearntthatsaltbushspeciespersistedinsalinelandtovaryingdegreesandwaterloggingwasamajorconstraintforsomespecies.Riversaltbush(A.amnicola)wasthemostpersistentspecies.Abetterunderstandingofsalinityandwaterlogginginteractionswillassistscientistsandlandmanagerstoplantthecorrectplantsintodifferentenvironments.AsecondoutcomeoftheACIARresearchwasthatsmallruminantscannotmaintainweightonsaltbushalone.WenowknowfrommorerecentworkinAustralia,thatthisinabilitytomaintainweightispartlyduetothehighsaltaccumulationinsaltbush(upto25%saltinleaves),whichrestrictsvoluntaryfeedintake.Sheepdonottendtoconsumemorethan150gperdayofsaltandworkinAustraliasuggeststhatsaltbushleavesshouldbenomorethan30%ofaruminantdiet.Reproducing,growingandlactatinganimalsmayneedanadditionalenergysupplement.Saltbushshouldthereforebetreatedasasupplementthathasnutritionaltraitsthatcomplementpoorqualitycerealdiets:itisnotadietinitsownright.Thesolublesaltcontentofsaltbushandotherhalophytestendstoresultintheoverestimationoftheenergyvalueoftheforageinnormallaboratoryanalyses.Unfortunately,thisproblempersistsinsomeresearchprograms.EmergingresearchinAustraliasuggeststhattheantioxidantsandsomemineralsinsaltbush(thoseassociatedwithantioxidantpathways)couldleadtohigherreproductionratesandimprovedsurvivalofyounganimals.Ruminantnutritionistsmustworkwiththeshrubagronomiststoensurethematerialisbeingusedcorrectly.Keyfeedingmessageswillneedtobetranslatedintolocallanguages.

WhatisthescopeforAnamekaTMsaltbush?TheliteratureandourexperienceleadsustoanticipateasignificantscopeforoldmansaltbushinaridareassuchasBalochistan.Thereisongoingresearchinthisregionwithseveralsaltbushspecies(A.nummularia,A.canescensandA.halimus).ItwouldbeclearlyworthcomparingtheperformanceofAnamekaTMwithlocallyadaptedshrubsinthisregion.TherecouldalsobearoleforlesswaterloggingtolerantsaltbusheslikeAnamekaTMinunirrigated,marginalareasthatarenearvillages.Asmallnumberofplantsmaybesufficienttoprovideaproteinandantioxidantsupplementtohouseholdflocks(typically>10individuals).Forirrigatedlandthathasbecomesaline,AnamekaTMprovidesanoptionwherethelandisnotwaterloggedforextended

periods.Workneedstobeundertakentoclarifytheecologicalboundariesofthespecies,compareittoriversaltbushandexploretheuseofsoilsurfacewatermanagementand/ormounding.Environmentalbenefitsintheformofincreasedwateruse(assistingwithsalinityissue)andimprovedecosystemfunctionalitywouldbeexpected.

Shrubsmustbeconsideredaspartofafarmingsystemandwherefeasible,complementaryunderstoreyspeciesshouldbeestablished.Thevalueofhalophyticshrubsmustbeconsideredwithinthecontextofafarmingsystem.InAustralia,manyofthebenefitsoftheshrubsaregeneratedinnon-salineareas.Forexample,grazingshrubsonsaltlandinlateautumnallowsAustralianfarmerstodeferthegrazingofestablishingannualpasturesonotherpartsofthefarm,thusboostingpastureproductivity.Theshrubsalsoallowfarmerstoreducesupplementaryfeedinputsandreducesriskassociatedwithdroughts.Improvingtheshrubunderstoreyleadstoafurtherboostinproductivityandallowsgrazinganimalstoselectadietthatmeetstheirneeds.ThereareanumberofdrylandandirrigatedunderstoreyspeciesthathavebeendevelopedforsalineandaridsystemsinAustraliaandelsewherethatcouldbetrialledwithshrubsinPakistan.Legumesareusefulcompanionplantstosaltbushes,asrootnodulerhizobiafixnitrogen.RecentworkinAustraliashowsthatsaltbushgrowthratesareveryresponsivetonitrogeninputs.Treeplantingmachinesandimprovednurserypropagationandmanagementtechniquesofferopportunitiestoimproveshrubestablishmentratesandreducecosts.

Shrubscouldofferanopportunityforwomentofillthefeedgapandgenerateincome.Aswomenaretheprimarycarersforsmallruminants,theytendtohaveaninterestinfeedingsystemsandoftenidentifypoornutritionastheprimaryconstrainttoproduction.Saltbushesareveryeasytopropagatebycuttingsanddonotrequireexpensiveequipmentormaterials.ThereareexamplesinJordanofwomenrunningsmallnurseriestoproduceshrubsforsale.InanotherACIARproject,wehavebeenworkingwithAfghanwomentostartsmallhousehold/villagenurseries.WebelievethatthisopportunityalsoexistsinPakistan.

3.2 Activity 2. Establish contact with the Federal Plant Protection Department to alert them to this work and explore seed (and possibly live seedling) import protocols.

Thiswasamuchmoretime-consumingprocessthaninitiallyanticipatedduetoin-countrycommunicationandchangesinAQISprotocols.DrNormaninitiatedcontactthroughthePakistanweb-basedapplicationearlyintheproject.Whileanacknowledgementoftheapplicationwasreturned,therewasnoresponse.DrKazmitheninitiatedcontactfromIslamabadandattemptedtoexpeditetheprocess.ItwasnotuntilMay2018thatthepaperworkthatstipulatedanimportprocedureandapprovalwasreceived.ThispaperworkwasrequiredtoimporttheshrubstoPakistanandallowexportoftheshrubsfromAustralia.AtthispointthefirstbatchofAnamekaTMplantsthathadbeenpreparedforexportweretoooldtosurvivetherootwashingprocedure.Asecondbatchwasinitiatedandfast-trackedthroughspecialtyglasshouseswithaplantosendthemwithDrBarrett-LennardinlateMay2018.Thistripwassubsequentlycancelledandre-scheduledforSeptember2018whenDrNormanandDrBarrett-LennardplannedtotaketheshrubstoUAFandparticipateinothermeetings.DrNormandidnotreceiveinvitationsintimeforavisatobeoffered,soDrBarrett-Lennardtravelledalone.Seventy-twoAnamekaTMsaltbushseedlingshadtheirrootswashedofsoilandweresterilisedaccordingtoGovernmentofPakistanandAustralianQuarantine

regulations.TheyweresuccessfullyimportedinSeptember2018andhandedtoDrJavaidAkhtar’steamattheUniversityofAgricultureatFaisalabad(UAF).Seed,representingseveralpopulationsofCSIRO’seliteoldmansaltbushF1seedlineswasalsosentwiththeseedlings.SaltbushisoctopoidanddioecioussoplantsestablishedfromtheF1seedlinesrepresentapopulationwheresomeplantshavehighfeedingvalueandsomemaybelessuseful.SeedlineshoweverprovidediversitythatcouldbeusefulifAnamakaTMisnotsuitedtoallofthetargetenvironmentsinPakistan.InanotherACIARresearchproject,someoftheseseedlineshavebeensuccessfullyestablishedandappearveryproductiveindryareasinAfghanistan.On8November2018,DrZulfiqarAhmadDastifromUAFprovidedanupdate.Duetothephytosantiaryprocesses,delaysintransitandveryhotweatheronarrival,17ofthe72plantssurvived.Thisisnotaproblemasonly1healthyplantwasneededtoprovidecuttingsforfuturefieldexperiments.TheUAFteamplannedtoshifttheplantstothefieldinlateNovember,DrBarrett-Lennardsuggestedthatnotallplantsshouldbetransplantedatthesametimetoreducerisk.

Fig1.AnamekaTMsaltbushcuttingsimportedfromCSIROinAustraliaandgrowingattheUniversityofAgricultureinFaisalabad.PhotossuppliedbyDrZulfiqarAhmadDasti.

3.3 Activity 3. Scoping visit by Australian saltbush/salinity specialists

ThetripwasoriginallyplannedforMarch2017andwastoincludeavisittokeyUniversityandresearchinstitutes,including;PakistanAgriculturalResearchCouncil(PARC),BalochistanAgriculturalResearchInstitute,UAF,theIslamiaUniversityofBahawalpur,aProvincialSalinityResearchInstitute,theDesertResearchInstitute,InternationalCentreforAgriculturalResearchintheDryAreas(ICARDA)andprovincialgovernments.TheaimwastoidentifyfutureresearchpartnersandpresentseminarsabouttheAustraliansaltbushwork.Unfortunatelyduetoacombinationofvisaapplicationissues,cancelledtrips(forin-countryreasons)andaninjuryarisingfromacaraccident,DrNormanwasunabletotraveltoPakistanduringthecourseoftheproject.DrBarrett-Lennardwas

abletovisiton3occasions.Thescopingstudy,witharevisedtravelitinerary,wasconductedbyDrBarrett-LennardandDrKazmi(ACIAR)from11-18November2017.ItineraryandnotesfromthescopingstudyinNovember2017:

• 11-12Nov2017.DrBarrett-LennardtravelledfromPerthtoLahore.HewasmetbytheAustralianHighCommissiondriverandstayedattheAvariHotel.

• 13Nov2017.TravelledfromLahoretoFaisalabadandstayedatSerenaHotel.• 14Nov2017.Participatedinaninter-agencyworkshopattheSerenaHotel.DrBarrett-

Lennarddeliveredapresentationtoworkshop“BriefoverviewofstateofsalinityresearchinternationallyandinPakistan,andrationaleforcurrentlyproposedsalinityproject.”

Theinter-agencyworkshop,facilitatedbyMichaelMitchellandCatherineAllen,culminatedinamulti-agencygroupofresearchersidentifyingandprioritisingaimsforafuturesalinityprojectthatwouldincorporatesaltbushresearch.Otherspeakersincluded;DrRobynJohnston(ACIAR’sProgramLeaderforLandandWater),DrMunawarKazmi(ACIAR’sincountrymanagerforPakistan),DrAshfaqAhmedSheikh(PakistanCouncilofResearchinWaterResources(PCRWR)-‘SalinityIssuesandManagementOptionsinPakistan’),andDrAltafAliSiyal(MehranUniversity)-‘HolisticapproachestosalinityresearchandmanagementinSindh’).Afterpresentationsandanopenpanelsessiontherewasconsensusthatthereneededtobeamoreintegratedmethodtodeliverresearchoutcomesandextensionadvicetofarmerstoachievelandscapechangeandpovertyalleviationonthescalerequired.Prof.RiazQureshi(formerheadoftheSalineAgricultureResearchCentre,formerViceChancellorofUAF,andformeradvisortotheHigherEducationCommission)providedvaluableinterventionsandinsights.

• 15Nov2017.ParticipatedinfieldsitevisitsintheFaisalabadarea.Meetingofprojectteammembers.DinnerwithDrZ.Saqib.

ThefieldtripwaskindlycoordinatedbyProf.JavaidAkhtarandDrZulfiqarSaqibofUAF.Thefieldtripfocusedontwolocations,ineachcasesupportedbylocalfarmers.Surfacesaltwasvisibleatbothsites,despitethefactthattherehadbeenrecentrain.Atthefirstsite,therewasaninterestingexampleofbarrenwastesaltlandimmediatelyadjacenttoarecentlyharvestedricecrop.Thericefieldhadbeenreclaimedbytheuseoftiledrainage,andtheapplicationofgypsumandorganicmatter.Ithadbeenirrigatedwithlocaltube-wellwater.Itprovidedadramaticexampleofthedifferencethattechnology,managementandfarmerconfidencecouldmake.Thesecondsitewasafieldforwheatcultivationthathadbeenrecentlyreclaimedfromsalinewasteland.Whilethetourdidnotincludeforageproductionpaddocks,thegroupdidencounterherdsofgoats.

• 16Nov2017.TravelledfromFaisalabadtoIslamabadwithDrKazmiandDrRobynJohnstonACIAR).DiscussedopportunitiesforthesaltbushtobeincorporatedintoanACIARsalinityprojectinPakistan.StayedatAustralianHighCommissionTransitHouse.

• 17Nov2017.DrBarrett-LennardmetwithHerExcellency,MargaretAdamsonandreceivedasecuritybriefingfromherteam.

DrBarrett-LennardobservedthatMsAdamsonwasstronglysupportiveoftheneedtodevelopanewprojectintegratingtechnologyanddeliveryinthesalinityarea,andpledgedongoingprojectsupport.Thediscussioncoveredunderestimationoftheextentorseverityoftheproblem,theneedtosupportdevelopmenteffortsinBalochistanandopportunitiestoutiliseknowledgeexchangingmechanismsliketheAustralianAlumniwebsite.

• 17Nov2017.DrBarrett-LennarddeliveredaseminarthathadbeenpreparedinconjunctionwithDrNormanon“AustraliansaltbushspeciesAtriplexnummulariaforfodderproductiononsalineland”atNARC.

ThetalkfocusedonDrBarrett-LennardandDrNorman’spreviousworkonsaltbush(inbothPakistanandAustralia)andthepotentialfornewoldmansaltbushlinesdevelopedbyCSIROtoplayaroleinsalineagriculture.ThepresentationwaschairedbytheNARCDG(DrAzim)andotherswhoparticipatedwerethePARCDirectorforLandandWater(DrAsad),theDirectorofRangelandManagement(DrImtiazQamar)andtheDirectorofNaturalResourceManagement(DrSafraz).Theseminarwasattendedbyapproximately100people.DrBarrett-Lennardmetwithgroupofinterestedpeopleaftertheseminar,including;

- DrM.IqbalAujum–SSO/PL(AMO)–ASI,NARC- DrM.ShazirZahid–PL(MSM&F)–CSI- DrM.MunirAhmed–Director,CAEWRI,CAEWRI- DrImtiarAhmadQamar–Director–RRI,NARC- DrSanfarizAhmad,DirectorRM&L–NARC- DrArshadAli–DirectorLRRI–NARC- AbdulWahidJasra–CR,ICIMOD-ICMOD/NARC.

DrSafrazsuggestedthatweincludethePARCinthesaltbushactivity,lookattheuseofbrackishwaterforsaltbushirrigationanddevelopmechanisedplantingtechniques.Healsowantedmoreinformationonthepelletingofseedsfromcomplementaryunderstoreyspeciesinabidtoimproveestablishment.TherewasstrongsupportfortheincorporationofsaltbushesintorangelandactivitiesinBalochistan.(Therehasbeenconsiderableworkinthisareaalreadywithtwoalternativesaltbushspecies,A.halimusandA.canescens).WhenDrKazmipointedoutthatourHighCommissionactivitydidnothavefundstoundertakesubstantialfieldtesting,itwassuggestedthatSafraizlookatoptionstofundthiskindoftestingoutofPakistanfunds.Thedevelopmentofalargeprojectmighttakeacoupleofyearstofund.

• 18Nov2017.DrBarrett-LennardmetwiththeChairmanofPCRWR(DrM.Ashraf),DrMazoor,DrKazmiandDrJohnston.

TheChairmanwasmostsupportiveabouttheneedforanewnationalapproachandcouldbeakeyplayerinthedevelopmentofinter-agencyconsensusforanationalsalinitydeliverystrategy.Itwasnotedthatatthenationallevel,itwouldbeimportanttoincludetheMinistriesofScienceandTechnology(bringingPCRWR),AgricultureandFood(bringinginPARCandtheNARC),Education(bringingintheUniversities),PowerandWater,andasimilargroupofdepartmentsoperatingattheprovinciallevel.DrAshrafsuggestedthatex-MinisterNisarMemoncouldbeapersonofinfluenceinbringingaboutanewinter-agencycollaborativeapproach.Otherissuesconcerninggroundwatermanagementandgroundwaterusewerealsodiscussed.

• 18-19Nov2017.DrBarrett-LennardreturnedtoPerthandhadadebriefingmeetingwithDrNorman.

Outcomesandreflectionsfromthescopingtour.AsDrBarrett-LennardhasalonghistoryofworkingwithsaltbushinPakistanandhasaninterestintheACIARsalinityproject(‘ImprovingsalinityandagriculturalwatermanagementintheIndusBasinofPakistan’),hisobservationsare

extremelyvaluableintermsoffuturedirectionsforthesaltbushactivities.Hefeltthattheprogramofmeetingsandtheparticipantsprovidedopportunitiestodiscusstheformationofanationalmovementforchangeinthedeliveryandimplementationofbetteroutcomesforfarmersaffectedbysalinity.ItwashisimpressionthatsignificantstakeholdersinthemeetingsinFaisalabadandIslamabadagreedwiththeproposition.Currentlythemandateforthedevelopmentanddeliveryofsalineagriculturetechnologieswasdividedamongstarangeofnationalandprovincialauthorities,soactiononthegroundwaspiecemealandinadequate,andconsequentlyaffectedfarmerscontinuedtobeimpoverished.TosomedegreethislackofcohesioninstrategywasthecaseinAustraliainthelate1990’swhenagronomists,hydrologists,animalnutritionistsandeconomistsdidnotcollaborateeffectivelyinsystemsresearchprojects.SignificantimpactsforfarmerswereachievedinAustraliathroughaprogramofmultidisciplinaryandmulti-agencyresearchfrom2000-2010.ItwasDrBarrett-Lennard’simpressionthatAustralianscouldplaykeyrolesin;

• catalysingtheformationofanetworkofresearchersandpolicydevelopmentstakeholders,• assemblingandsynthesizingcurrentlyavailableinformationacrossdisciplines,• developingarangeof‘venues’or‘platforms’forinteragencycooperationandcollaborations• demonstratingthevalueofsuchcooperationinpiloton-groundinteractionswithfarmers,

and• usingtheexamplesofthesetocatalysepermanentinteragencycooperationdrivenatthe

Ministeriallevel.

Fromtheperspectiveofutilisingsalinelandforforageproduction,thesuccessfulimportationofAnamekaTMtoPakistanwasacriticalstep.However,thevalueofthisshrubandothersaltbushspecieswouldonlyberealisedwhenagronomists(salineandarid),animalscientistsandfarmingsystemsspecialistsworkedtogetherwithfarmersandotherstakeholders.TheACIARSmallRuminantsandSalinityprojects,workingtogether,havesignificantpotentialtofacilitatethisprocess.Bringingadelegationofkey,activePakistaniresearchersandstakeholderstoWesternAustraliatoseemultidisciplinaryresearch,commercialbusinessassociatedwithsalineandaridagricultureandproducerengagementwithresearcherscouldbeveryuseful.

3.4 Activity 4. Conduct site visits to meet with communities and NGO’s in arid and salt affected areas. Develop linkages with the Balochistan Sheep Program staff (as a visit is unlikely). Seek to understand the use of shrubs and saltbush within feeding systems, plant propagation and establishment and the potential role of women in shrub propagation.

OpportunitiestoconductsitevisitswithNGO’swerelimitedbytravelrestrictions.Givenherinabilitytotravel,DrNormansoughtinformationfromDrRebeccaDoyleinunderstandingthefeedingsystems.Theselearningsaresummarisedinthereviewdocument.LinkageswiththeBalochistanSheepProgramwerehardertoobtain.ThereisnodoubtthatthereisaroleforsaltbushindryandsalineareasofPakistan.AsforsimilarecogeographicalareasofAustralia,AfghanistanandIraq–saltbushcanplayarolebyprovidingasupplementtothedietsofruminantsgrazingpoorqualitycropresidues.InanACIAR/DFATforagesandwaterprojectsinAfghanistan,DrNormanandcolleaguesfromICARDAfoundthatwomenin

villageswerethemostlikelytopropagate,plantandmanagesaltbush.Thiswasinpartduetothefactthatwomenarelargelyresponsibleforfeedingsmallruminants.DrNormanhasworkedwithsixAfghanwomentohelpthemdevelopskillsinsaltbushpropagation(fromseedsandcuttings),seedtesting,establishmentandfeedingsystemsforsmallruminants.ThistrainingwouldbeidealforwomeninPakistanastheoldmansaltbushbecomesavailable.ItwasunclearifthistrainingisavailableinPakistanalready.DrNormanwillseekopportunitiestoprovidethetrainingthroughtheACIARSalinityandSmallRuminantsactivitiesand/orthroughCrawfordFundsupport.ThiswouldberuninconjunctionwithaleadingAustraliancommercialtreefarmandengineeringbusiness(Chatfield’sTreeFarminTammin,WA)andseveralAustralianfarmerswhoareearlyadoptersofAnamekaTMsaltbush.Itisourhopethatwomenwillbepartoffuturedelegations.

Fig2.ExamplesoftrainingandcommerciallinkageopportunitiesinAustralia.Clockwisefromthetop.AnamekaTMsaltbushgrowingonsalinelandinWA,AfghanscientiststalkingtoanAustralianfarmerwhousessaltbushasacomponentofhisfarmingsystemandtoDrBradNutt(legumeexpertfromMurdochUniversityandDrKellyPearce(meatqualityexpert),IraqiscientistsvisitingChatfield’sTreeFarmtolearnmoreaboutcommercialscaleshrubproductionandacommercialChatfield’sTreePlanterinaction.

3.5 Activity 5. Identify potential saltbush research collaborators, including farming systems scientists, ruminant nutritionists and plant physiologists. A second visit in September 2017 (4 Australian researchers) will develop research ideas and (with the assistance of partners identified during the first visit) establish some saltbush germplasm for further in-country testing.

Asexplainedpreviously,delaysinimportingthesaltbushledtodelaysinthedesignofongoingexperimental/demonstrationactivities.Keylikelyplayersinfuturesaltbushdevelopmentinclude;

• Prof.JavaidAkhtarandDrZulfiqarSaqibb(UAF)• ResearchersinvolvedinthesaltbushworkinBalochistan(NARC)• ResearchersattheMuhammadNawazSharifUniversityofAgriculture,Multan.• ResearchersworkingwithDrDoyle’ssmallruminantproject.Thisincludesresearchersfrom

theUniversityofVeterinaryandAnimalSciences,LahoreandtheSindhLivestockDepartment.

3.6 Activity 6. Write a report outlining the potential of the new Australian saltbush cultivars within agricultural systems in Pakistan. Describe opportunities for further research and development that align with the Australian Pakistan Aid Investment Plan. Identify research teams who could partner in future research and highlight opportunities for linkages between Australian and Pakistan businesses.

ThisreporthasbeenwrittentoaddressActivity6.

3.7 Activity 7. Visit the Australian High Commissioner in Islamabad and present a seminar about saltbush development in Australia (start of the project) and project outcomes/future opportunities and pathway to commercialisation (end of the project).

DrBarrett-LennardpresentedsomeinformationtoHerExcellency,MsAdamsontheAustralianHighCommissionerin2017.AsplanstoutilisesaltbusharedevelopedwithintheSmallRuminantsandSalinityprojects,DrNormanandDrBarrett-LennardwillseekanopportunitytovisittheAustralianHighCommissionerinIslamabadtopresentanupdate.IfanyoftheHighCommissionstaffaretravellingthroughPerth,DrNormanandDrBarrett-Lennardwouldwelcometheopportunitytopresenttheresearchandshowthemsomeofthecommercial-scaleoutcomesinsalineandaridareasofWesternAustralia.EquallywewouldbehappytomeetstaffinanotherAustraliancity.

4 Future Directions Wherepossible,wewillcontinuetocollaboratewithUAFandtheACIARSmallRuminantsandSalinityteamstoidentifyopportunitiestotrialAnamekaTMsaltbushandtheimprovedseedlines.Ifadditionalfundswereavailable,wewouldsuggestthattheybeusedtomaintaintheAnamekaTMplantsatUAFandprovideatrainingopportunityforPakistaniresearchersinAustralia.

ThereisasignificantopportunitytotestAnamekaTMandothersaltbushcultivarsinPakistanandtoincorporatebiomassintofeedingsystems.

OneopportunitytoincreasetheuptakeofAnamekaTMsaltbushinPakistanmaybethroughthedevelopmentofafutureACIARProjectfocusingonsalinity.ThisprojectisbeingmanagedbyDrMichaelMitchellfromCharlesSturtUniversity.Theaimsofthisprojectarestillbeingdeveloped,buttheworkcouldbeusedtofurthertheadaptionofsaltbushintosalineaffectedcommunities.

5 Acknowledgements WearegratefulforthefinancialandadministrationsupportfromDFATandACIAR.ThankstostafffromtheAustralianHighCommission,DrMunawarKazmi,DrPeterHorne,DrWernerSturandtheexcellentdrivers(especiallyAkramandFarook).WewouldliketothankDrRebeccaDoyleandDrAngusCampbellforsharinginformationandinsightsconcerningruminantproductionsystems.ThiswasverymuchappreciatedgivenHayley’sinabilitytovisitvillagesduringtheprojectterm.ThankyoutoDustinandLisaMcCreeryatChatfield’sTreeNurseryinTamminforgrowingtheshrubsandgenerouslyallowingustobringvisitorsthroughtheirfacility,andtoTonyandSimonYorkformaintainingashrubcollectionontheirfarm.CSIRO’sMattWilmot,ElizabethHulm,PaulYoungandJoshHendrypreparedshrubsonanumberofoccasionsforphytosanitaryrequirementsandexport.WeappreciatethesupportofProf.JavaidAkhtarandDrZulfiqarSaqibb(UAFSalineAgricultureResearchCentre)fortakingthesaltbushplantsandgrowingthemonforfutureresearchactivities.

6 Appendix 1. The potential role of halophytic shrubs in small ruminant systems in Pakistan – a review of the literature and future opportunities.

6.1 Summary of the review Thisreviewfocusedontheclimate,agriculturalsystemsandopportunitiesforimprovementsinlivestocksystems.ThisreviewfocusesontwoofthesixmajorlandscapeunitsinPakistan,theIndusPlainandtheBalochistanPlateauwithintheprovincesofSindh,PunjabandBalochistan.Keypointsfromthereviewinclude;

• OneineverythreePakistanisstilldoesnothaveregularandassuredaccesstosufficientfoodsofoodsecurityisacriticalissue.Livestockprovidefood,draughtpower,socialbenefits,riskmitigationinmixedfarmingsystemsandasourceofcashintimesofneed.

• Agricultureemploysover44%ofthepopulationofPakistanandaccountsfor60%ofexportearnings.Inruralareas,morethan60%ofthepopulationisinvolvedinagriculture.Livestockproductionisundertakenbyanestimated8.4millionruralfamiliesandwomenareresponsiblefor60-80%ofthelabour.Anyimprovementinlivestockproductivitywillimprovelivelihoodsofalargenumberofwomenandchildren.

• LackofrainfallisthebiggestconstrainttoagricultureinPakistan.Almost87%ofPakistanhasaclimatethatisextremelyaridtosemi-arid(<200mmannualrainfall).Climatechangeandassociatedsealevelrisearethreats.Salinityandshallowwater-tablesconstrainproductioninirrigatedareas.

• Themostproductivesystemsinvolvetheintensiveirrigationofcropsandforages.Thesesystemsareconstrainedbyurbanisation,increasingdesiretogrowcashcrops,lackofqualityforageseedandenvironmentaldegradation.Rangelandsareacriticalcomponentofthelivestocksystemsinrainfedareas.Overgrazinghasledtoadeclineinforagequalityandquantity.

• Ruminantproductionsystemsareconstrainedbythequantityandqualityofforage.Lackofcrudeproteinindietsisamajorproblem.Feedgapsoccurinsummerandwinter.

• Halophyticshrubssuchassaltbush(Atriplex)speciesaretolerantofbothsalinityANDaridity.Theofferanopportunityforforageproductiononsoilsthataretoosalinefortraditionalcropsandforagesandinrainfedareasthatcannotbecropped,includingrangeland,wastelandandirrigationbanks.

• PreviousworkonsaltbushinPakistanfocussedonverysalineareaswithshallowwater-tableswithvaryingdegreesofsuccess.Shallowwater-tablesarethebiggestlimitationtogrowthofsaltbush.Sincetheseprojects,alotofactivityinAustraliahasledtoabetterunderstandingoftheinteractionbetweensalinityandwaterloggingonplantgrowthandsurvival.InPakistan,abiggeropportunitycouldexistinthemarginallandindryareas,onirrigationbanksthatarenotinundatedandarounddwellingsthattendtobeonmoreelevatedland.

• Afterinundation,lackofgrazingmanagementisthebiggestthreattoshrubsurvival.Forthisreasonsaltbushplantsareprobablybettersuitedtoareasadjacenttovillagesandhomes.IntroductiontorangelandsinBalochistanwillrequirefencingorcommunity-basedgrazingmanagement.

• PreviousandongoingworkdemonstratesthatsaltbushspeciespersistinPakistanandhavesignificantpotentialtofillfeedandnutrientgaps.Saltbushleavesarehighincrudeprotein,essentialantioxidantsandminerals.However,digestibleenergylevelscanbepoorandtheplantssynthesiseanti-nutritionalsecondarycompounds.Highsaltinthebiomasslimitsintakebystockandincreasestherequirementfordrinkingwater.Saltbushasasupplementcouldimprovehealthandreproductivecapacity,duetohighconcentrationsofvitaminsandmineralsassociatedwithantioxidantpathways.

• Overthepast15yearsinAustraliascientistshavebeenworkingtoidentifysuperioroldmansaltbush(Atriplexnummularia)genotypeswithimprovedfeedingvalue.AnamekaTM,avegetativecutting,wascommercialisedbyCSIROin2014.Theteamarecurrentlydevelopingasecondgenerationofcultivarsbasedonpropagationfromseeds.Thishaspotentialforlarge-scalerangelandrehabilitation.Australianscientistsarestillresearchingmanagementstrategiestooptimiselivestockperformanceandshrubgrowth.

• ThereisasignificantopportunitytointroduceandtestimprovedAustraliansaltbushshrubsasafeedsupplementtoruminantsinPakistan.Saltbushisveryeasytopropagatebyvegetativecuttings.Itmaybepossibleforruralwomentogeneratetheirowncuttingsandperhapsdevelopsmallbusinesses.ThishasbeendemonstratedinJordanandisunderwayinAfghanistan.Within-villageproductioncouldcircumventissueswiththeformalforageseedproductionandcertificationschemes.

• DuringthisSRA,wesuccessfullyimportedAnamekaTMsaltbushasliveplantstotheUniversityofAgricultureinFaisalabad.Iftheseplantsaremaintained,thematerialwouldbeavailableforfutureresearchprojects.ThereisalsoanopportunityfortraininginAustraliacoveringaspectsofsaltbushpropagation,establishment,grazingmanagementandassociatedscience.

6.2 Agriculture in Pakistan

6.2.1 Importance of agriculture to support livelihoods Pakistanhasrecentlybeenrankedthe5thmostpopulouscountryintheworld,withabout207.7millionpeople.In2013,itwasthoughtthatmorethan20%ofthepopulationofPakistanliveonlessthanUS$1.25adayandhavelimitedaccesstobasicservices(UNHumanDevelopmentIndex,2013).In2016,itwasestimatedthat45%ofthepopulationwaslivingonlessthan$2perday(UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme2016).Agricultureemploysover44%ofthepopulationandaccountsfor60%ofexportearnings.Inruralareas,62%ofthepopulationisinvolvedinagriculture(Nosheen,2008).OneineverythreePakistanisstilldoesnothaveregularandassuredaccesstosufficientfood.Pakistan’sVision2025documentsuggeststhatgrowthinagricultureinPakistanhasthepotentialtobefourtimesmoreeffectiveinalleviatingpovertythangrowthinnon-agriculturesectors.Althoughgrowthisatarget,improvementsinoverallagriculturalperformanceinPakistanhasbeenpoorinrecentdecades.OneofthetopfiveobjectivesthatthePakistanGovernmenthassetfortheagriculturesectorisprotectionofthemostfood-insecureandthecreationofamodern,efficientanddiversifiedagriculturesector(Vision2025).AlleviatingpovertyandimprovingfoodsecurityinPakistanisalsoagoaloftheAustralianGovernment’sPakistanAidInvestmentPlan.

Improvinglivestockproductionsystemswillhavealargeimpactonruralpoor,especiallywomenandchildren.AbouttwothirdofthefarmingcommunityinPakistanconsistsofsmallfarmerswhoarecharacterisedbysmalllandholdingsoflessthan5hectares(IqbalandAhmed1999).Livestockproductionsupports8.42millionruralfamilies(Afzal2010).Ithasbeenestimatedthatwomen

contribute60-80%ofthelabourforlivestockrearinginPakistan(Younasetal.2007).Insmallholdersystems,womenraiselivestocktomeethouseholdneedsandprovideincomeforthefamily.

TheAgricultureValueChainCollaborativeResearch(AVCCR)program-fundedSRA‘SmallholdergoatvaluechainsinPakistan;challengesandresearchopportunities’exploredsheepandgoatproductionsystemsinPunjabandSindh.Theauthorsfoundthatwomen’srolesinraisingsmallruminantschieflyinvolvefeedingandcaringforanimals.Womenandchildrenperformsubstantiallymoreofthedaytodaywork.Theyseldomdeliverhealthcare,interactwithanimalhealthprovidersorleaddecisionmaking.

6.2.2 Agricultural areas of Pakistan that are suited to saltbush Pakistancoversanareaofabout800000squarekmandabout35%oftheareaisconsideredagriculturallandwith28%arableand6.5%permanentpasture(WorldFactbook).Pakistan'smajorriver,theIndus,providesirrigationwaterasitflowsfromtheTibetanplateautotheArabianSea.ThelandinPakistancomprisessixmajorlandscapeunits;(1)thenorthernmountainsonthewesternrangesoftheHimalayas,(2)theHinduKushandthewesternmountainsontheboundarybetweenPakistanandAfghanistan,(3)thehighlydissectedPotwarPlateauandSaltRangewhichliebetweentheIndusandtheJhelumrivers,(4)thedryBalochistanPlateau,(5)theIndusBasin,and(6)theCholistanandThaideserts(QureshiandBarrett-Lennard1998).ThisSRAfocusesontwoofthesixlandscapeunits,theIndusPlainandBalochistanPlateauintheprovincesofSindh,PunjabandBalochistan.

TheIndusPlain(~21Mha)extendsabout1000kilometresfromthePeshawarvaletotheArabianSeaandistheconsideredthemostprosperousagriculturalregionofPakistan(Ghassemietal.1995).ItsnorthernzonecomprisestheProvinceofPunjabandpartsofKhyberPakhtunkhwa(previouslyknownasNorthWestFrontierProvince),whilethesouthernzoneformspartoftheProvinceofSindh.TheIndusPlainisextremelyflat;ithasanaveragegradienttowardstheseaofonly19centimetresperkilometre(Ghassemietal.1995).BalochistanissituatedinthesouthwestofPakistanandcoversanareaofabout347000squarekilometres.TheBalochistanplateauhasanaverageelevationofabout600metresandconsistsofrangesofdryhills(generallyrunningfromnortheasttosouth-west),dryvalleys,salinelakesandvastareasofdesert.

LackofrainfallisarguablythebiggestconstrainttoagricultureinPakistan.Almost87%ofPakistanhasaclimatethatisextremelyaridtosemi-arid(<200mmannualrainfall).Further,Adnanetal(2017)observeda5%decreaseinprecipitationoverthe30yearsfrom1981to2010.Thesemi-aridzoneismorevulnerabletodrought,whileintensityandseverityaregreaterintheextremelyaridregion(Adnanetal2017).RainfallistoolowandirregularforcroppinginmuchofPakistanandirrigationisusedonaboutthree-quartersofthecultivatedland(FAO1989).

InSindhandPunjabprovinces,60%ofrainfallsprimarilyinthemonsoonmonthsofJuly,AugustandSeptember.Someareas(especiallyinthenorthandwest)havearainfalldistributionwithtwopeaks,mid-winterbeingthesecondrainyseason(QureshiandBarrett-Lennard1998).Ingeneral,summersareveryhot,especiallyontheplains.InJune,dailymaximumtemperaturesmayexceed40°C(>45°CinUpperSindh).Temperaturesaremilderinthecoastalbeltandmountains.TemperaturesbegintodecreaseinJulywiththeonsetofthemonsoonalrains.InmuchoftheIndusPlain,minimumtemperaturesareabout4°CandfrostispossibleinlateDecemberandJanuary.Frostismuchlesslikelyalongthecoast(QureshiandBarrett-Lennard1998).

BalochistanissituatedinthesouthwesternpartofPakistanandhasanareaofapproximately35millionhaandapopulationof5million(Mirzaetal2009).Balochistanhasanaridorsemi-arid

climatewitherraticrainfalldistribution.Annualprecipitationvariesfrom50mmtoover400mm(fromWesttoEast).Temperaturesarecoolinwinter(verycoldinthehighlands)andveryhotinsummer,withtemperaturesexceeding50oC.

Pakistanhastwoannualcroppingseasons,thekharifseasoninwhichsummercropslikerice,maizeandsorghumaregrown(sowninJulyandharvestedinOctober),andtherabiseasoninwhichwintercropslikewheat,clover,oatsandbarleyaregrown(harvestedinApril/May).Withlowevaporativeconditionsinwinter,verygoodrabicropscanberaisedwithonlyafewirrigations(QureshiandBarrett-Lennard1998).Whereirrigationisunavailable,drylandcropsandforagessupplementextensivegrazingsystems.Intheirrigatedzone,thereisashortageofgoodqualitywaterforcrops,thereforetheuseofpoorqualitywateranddrylandforagespeciesforruminantsisagoodopportunitytoboostproductivitywithoutreducingfoodsecurity(AhmadandIsmail1996).

Fig1,RainfalldistributionandirrigationareasofPakistan(TakenfromQureshiandBarrett-Lennard,1998viaBadruddin1987andGhassemietal1995)

6.2.3 Salinity, waterlogging and rangeland degradation in Pakistan Afteraridity,salinityandshallowwater-tablesrepresentasignificantagriculturalproductionconstraint.Pakistanhas0.6%oftheworld’slandmassbutaccountsfor3.9%oflandthatisaffectedbysalinity(ACIAR2007).AhmadandIsmail(1996)estimatethatsalinityandshallowwater-tablesreduceproductivityofuptoathirdofagriculturallandinPakistan,withnearlytwothirdsofirrigatedlandbeingimpacted.Thecausesincludeover-irrigation,poordrainage,seepagefromirrigationchannels,useofpoor-qualitygroundwaterandseawaterintrusion.Water-tablesinPakistanaredeepestattheendofthedryseasonandshallowestimmediatelyafterthewetseason.Atthetimeoftheyearwhenwater-tablesaredeepest,ithasbeenestimatedthatonlyabout13%ofirrigatedlandhaswater-tablesoflessthan1.5metres(QureshiandBarrett-Lennard,1998).Nearly50%ofirrigatedlandhaswater-tablesdeeperthan3metres–alevelwherecapillaryriseofsaltisunlikely(QureshiandBarrett-Lennard,1998).Approximately1.4millionhectaresoflandhasnowbeenabandoned(ACIAR2007)andcropyieldhasbeensubstantiallyreducedinotherareas.Salinisationisincreasinginextentandseverity,withanestimated40000haofadditionallandbecomingimpactedannually(GovernmentofPakistan,2017).

Therehavebeenmanyeffortstopreventsalinityandremediatesalineland.Thisincludestheusualsuiteofengineering(tubewells,liningchannels)andchemicalsolutions(flushingwithexcesswater,andtheapplicationofgypsumandorganicmatter).ACIARmadeasubstantialinvestmentintheintroductionofAustraliansalt-toleranthalophyticshrubsinthe1980’sand1990’s(Projects8619and9302).Whiletherehasbeensomeprogress,thescaleoftheproblemmeansthattheseoptionswillnotsolvethesalinityproblemandlargeareasoflandwillcontinuetobetoosalinefortraditionalcrops.ArecentreviewexaminedPakistan’ssalinitymanagementstrategies(Akhtar,2018)anditemphasisedtheneedforconsiderationofsocial,technical,economicandenvironmentalaspects.LikeAustralia,forlargeareas,productiveusesofsalinelandmaybemorepracticalthanremediationforsalt-sensitivecropsandforages.

InBalochistan,rangelanddegradationhasoccurredduetoover-grazingandtheharvestingofwoodyperennialsforfuel.Someoftheindicatorsofrangelandsdegradationincludeareductioninvegetationcover,reducedabovegroundplantproductivity,soilerosion,eliminationofsoilseedbanks,andashiftinspeciescomposition(Sarfrazetal.2012).Insomeareas,abovegrounddrybiomassproductionvariesfrom40to200kg/hainopenareascomparedto200to865kg/hainprotectedareas.Asinothercountriesintheregion,viablesolutionsaredifficulttoimplementduetolandtenure.

6.2.4 Ruminant Production Systems and Feed Gaps Livestockproductionisamajorsourceofincomeinboththeirrigatedandrain-fedareasofPakistanandsupportsanestimated8.42millionruralfamilies(Afzal2010).Livestockasasub-sectorofagricultureaccountsforabout11%ofPakistanGDPandcontributesapproximately56%ofthevalueofagriculture(Rehmanetal2017).Asanexampleofthescaleoflivestockproduction,Pakistanisthethirdlargestmilkproducingcountryintheworld(Afzal2010).Thelivestocksectorisgrowingfasterthanagricultureoverall;in2014overallgrowthoftheagriculturalsectorwas2.9%whereasgrowthinlivestockwas4.1%(Rehmanetal2017).Livestockfarmingisanintegralcomponentofruralsmallholderproductionandhasbeendescribedashavingavastuntappedpotentialforproductivityincreaseandincomegeneration(IqbalandAhmed1999).Therecentincreasesinanimalproductionisthoughttohavebeentheresultofanincreaseinanimalnumbers,notproductivityper

animal.However,improvedanimalefficiencywillbeanimperativenecessityforthefutureincreaseinfoodproduction(Dahlin1998;IqbalandAhmed1999).

In2015,Pakistanhadapproximately65milliongoats,25millionsheep,40millioncattleand32millionbuffalo(seeFig2,Rehmanetal2017).Basedoncensusdatafrom2000,themajorityofcattleandbuffaloareinthePunjabandSindhprovinces,withveryfewinBalochistan(Fig3,AfzalandNaqvi2003).Ofthegoats,37%wereinPunjab,24%inSindhand22%inBalochistan.SheeppredominateinBalochistanwith44%ofthenation’sflock,whilePunjabandSindhhad24%and18%respectively.Ruminantsarekeptinsmallruralhouseholdsystemsorinextensiveherdsintherangelands.Livestockarenotonlyusedforfoodproduction;theyarealsovaluedasasourceofdraughtpowerandforthefulfilmentofsocialobligations(HorneandStur,1997).About9milliongoats,sheep,cattleandcamelsareslaughteredeachyearduringEid-al-Adhaobservances(about30%oftheannualslaughterforthesespecies).

Fig.2.NumbersofruminantsinPakistan.GraphtakenfromRehmanetal2017.

InthePunjab,theaverageflock/herdsizesinruralhouseholdsystemsaresmall.Inasurveyof55householdsineachofsixvillagesinPunjab,80%ofhouseholdshadgoatswithanaverageherdsizeof5-7animals(Muhammad,2015).Inirrigatedareas,ithasbeenestimatedthat85-90%ofthenutritionalrequirementsofruminantsaremetbynon-conservedforage(Ul-Allahetal2015).Foragespeciesincludeberseemclover(Trifoliumalexandrenium),persianclover(Trifoliumresupinatum),oats(Avenasativa)andbarley(Hordiumvulgare)inwinter,andcorn(Zeamays)andsorghum(Sorghumbicolor)insummer.Forageproductionisoftenrotatedinadoublecropsequence.Inrecentyears,forageproductionhasdeclinedduetoincreasingurbanisation,competitionwithcashcrops(Ul-Allahetal2015)andsalinity.

Nomadic,transhumant,andsedentaryarethethreemajorgrazingsystemsinBalochistan(Mirzaetal2009).OutofthetotalareaofBalochistan,21millionhaofBalochistan(~60%)isusedforgrazing

smallruminants(Mirzaetal2009).Morethanhalfofthisareaisclassifiedas‘poor’withforageyieldsofonly30-50kgdrymatter/hectare,whereasonly14%oftheareaisclassifiedas‘better’rangelandwithforageyieldsof250-280kgdrymatter/hectare(Mirzaetal2009).Lackofbiomassandseverenutritionaldeficitsinautumnandwinterlimitlivestockproduction(Akbaretal1990).Overgrazingofrangelandsandsemi-aridareashasledtoadeclineinspeciesdiversityandforagequality.Inaddition,theexpansionofdrylandfarmingintomarginalareasandtheuseoftreesandshrubsforhouseholdfuelhasledtoadeclineinthenaturalresourcebase.Asisthecaseforrangelandsworldwide,overgrazinghasledtoadeclineinthequalityofthefeedbaseforruminantsaspalatablespeciesarereplacedwithlow-qualityvegetation.Inadequateforageduringthedryperiodscombinedwithdroughteventsresultsinheavystocklosses.

Fig.3.AllocationofruminantspeciesacrossprovincesofPakistanin2000(%ofthetotalnumber).DatacalculatedfromAfzalandNaqvi(2003)

The‘SmallholdergoatvaluechainsinPakistan;challengesandresearchopportunities’projectteamexploredsheepandgoatproductionsystemsinPunjabandSindh.Theauthorsconcludedthatpoorsupply(quantity,qualityandconsistency)ofanimalsfromfarmsisthemajorrestrictioninmanyvaluechains.Contributingfactorswerethoughttoincludeillthriftandmortalityofyounganimals,inappropriatenutritionandpoorhealthofadultstock.Further,extensionservicesarelimitedandpoorlycoordinated,soimprovementsareslowandsupplycannotmatchdemand.Interestingly,theprojectfoundthatwomenandmenidentifiedslightlydifferentconstraintstosmallruminantfarming.Womenrankednutritionasthemajorissue,followedbyanimalhealth.Menrankedtheissuesinreverseorder.Villageswithlowresourceavailabilityconsiderednutritiontobethemostsignificantissueaffectingsmallruminantproduction,andasresourceavailabilityincreasedthisdeclinedandhealthbecamethemostsignificantissue.

InboththePunjabandBalochistan,livestockproductiontendstobeintegratedwithcropproductioninmixedfarmingsystems;livestockutilisecropresiduesandforagesareproducedinacroprotationcycle(IqbalandAhmed1999).AsinAustralia,integrationofcropsandlivestockisawaythatfarmerscanimproveflexibilityandmanagerisk.Theavailabilityofsufficienthigh-quality

seedremainsaconstrainttosownforages(Anwaretal2012).Thereisaclearneedtoimprovetheproductivityandfeedingvalueofsownforagesandtodiversifythefeed-basetoallowforfutureincreasesinlivestockproduction.Identificationofnewforagesandbetterforagemanagementhasbeenaveryactiveareaofresearch(forexample;Rossetal2004;Ul-Allahetal2014,2015).Waste-andfallow-landsarealsoheavilyutilisedinPakistan.Feedingsystemsvaryataregionalscaleandwithproductionsystems.

Whilefeedingsystemsvaryatalocalandregionallevel,Pakistanhastwoperiodsofacutefodderdeficiency,oneinsummerandtheotherinwinter;ruminantstypicallyloseconditionduringthesetimes.Lackofnutrients,alongwithpoordiseasemanagement,areconsideredthelargestconstraintstoproduction(Dossaetal2018).Studiessuggestthatonly75%oflivestockreceivetherequiredamountoftotaldigestiblenutrients,andthereisa60%deficiencyofdigestiblecrudeprotein(Akram1990;DevendraandSevilla2002).Ithasbeenestimatedthatanimprovementinforagequantityandqualitycouldincreaselivestockgrowthinupto50%fromtheremaininggeneticpoolofanimals(Hasnain1983,ascitedbyRehman2017).TheAVCCR‘SmallholdergoatvaluechainsinPakistan;challengesandresearchopportunities’projectfoundthatnutritionallimitationsweremostacuteatthestartofthesummer(April-May),andduringwinter(Oct-Dec)whengrowingcropscannotbegrazedbyanimals.Farmersstatedtheyreceivedpoorpricesifanimalsweresoldtotradersorbutchersduringtheseperiods.Mortalityofyoungstockwasacriticalissueatthesetimesoftheyear,with25-80%ofyounganimalsdying.

6.2.5 Halophytes to complement ruminant feeding systems in Pakistan

Thehighestproportionofsalineareasoftheworldarefoundinaridandsemi-aridenvironments(FAO/AGL,2000).HalophyticshrubsfromtheChenopodiaceaefamilyareparticularlywell-adaptedtosalineandaridagricultureastheyareperennial,droughtresistantandtolerantofgrazing(Mastersetal2007).Theseshrubsincludesaltbushes,bluebushes(Maireanaspp),Kochiaspp.,glassworts(Salicorniaspp.)andSuaedaspp.(LeHouérou,1994;Mastersetal.,2001).LeHouérou(1992)reportedthatedibleforageproductionfromarangeofsaltbushspeciestobe5–10kgdrymatterperhaeachyearforeachmmofrainfallinareaswithoutlargesalinityorwaterloggingconstraints.Thismeansthatwithfavourablesoilsand200mmrainfall,yieldsof2tdrymatterperhectareperyearcouldbeexpected.UnderidealgrowingconditionsinPakistan,saltbusheshavedemonstratedleafyieldsof5-6tonnesfreshweight(1-2tonnesDM)perhectareperyear(ACIARproject8619).Saltbushproductivitydependsonharvestingmanagementandsoilconditions(soilcompaction/hardpans,flooding,soilsalinity,moisturedeficiencyandwaterlogging).

Thefeedingvalueofhalophyticshrubsasasoledietforruminantsisgenerallypoor,duetoacombinationof:(1)lowtomoderatebiomassproduction,(2)lowtomoderatedigestibilityoftheorganicmatter,(3)excessivesaltand/orsulphuraccumulation,and(4)thepresenceofexcessiveplantsecondarycompoundssuchasoxalate(Normanetal2004;AlDainietal2013).InAustraliansystems,itisthereforerecommendedthatfarmersuseshrubssuchassaltbushasa‘supplement’forlivestockgrazingcropresidues–notafeedinitsownright(Normanetal2008).Saltbushleafmayhavearoleasamaintenancefeedduringperiodsoffeedshortage(HanjraandRasooI1993),howeversaltaccumulationinleaveswillrestrictvoluntaryintaketolevelsbelowmaintenance.MixingfeedstooptimiseproductivityisnotanovelconceptinPakistanwherefarmersmixcerealstrawwithotherhigherqualityfeedslikeberseemclovertoproducedietsusefulforruminants.Despitenutritionallimitations,saltbushisavaluablesourceofcrudeprotein,sulphur,vitaminEandmineralswithinmeat,milkandwoolproductionsystems(BenSalemetal2010;Pearceetal2010).

WorkinAustraliahasdemonstratedthebenefitoftheantioxidantsinsaltbush.Forexample,Fancote(2013)foundthatlambswithaccesstosaltbushhadhighervitaminElevelsandreducedincidenceofsubclinicalnutritionalmyopathyduringsummerandautumn.Pearceetal(2010)foundimprovementsincarcassandmeatcharacteristicsoflambsthatgrazedsaltbushpriortoslaughter.

6.3 Previous Salinity and Saltbush Research in Pakistan AustraliansaltbushcultivarswereintroducedtoPakistaninthe1980’sfromtheDepartmentofAgronomyattheUniversityofWesternAustralia.Atriplexanmicola(calledAtriplexrhagodioidesatthetime)wasimportedbyDrZahoorAslamaspartofhisPhDstudies.Seedfromtheplantsweresubsequentlyusedforaseriesofsalttolerancestudies(MahmoodandMalik,19787).

TwoACIAR-fundedprojects(#8619and#9302)haveinvestigatedtheuseofforageshrubsandwoodyspeciesforsalineareasofPakistan.Theprojectsranconsecutivelyfor8yearsfrom1986.

6.3.1 ACIAR project #8619. Forage shrub production from saline and/or sodic soils in Pakistan

Project#8619wasledbyDrEdBarrettLennard(DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries,WesternAustralia)andProfRiazQureshi(UniversityofAgriculture,Faisalabad).Thefocusoftheprojectwasonplantadaptation,withaseriesofexperimentstoidentifyoptionsforsalineareasthataresubjecttowaterlogging.Tenspeciesofhalophyticshrubswereexaminedandfivespeciesofsaltbusheswerefoundtoofferasignificantopportunityforfarmerswithsalineland.Duetothefocusonshallowwater-tablesandwaterlogging,oldmansaltbushwasnotincludedintheexperiments.Fig.4showsthedistributionofthefiveprojectresearchsites.

Fig.4.MapofPakistanshowingthekeyresearchsitesfromthepreviousACIARsalinityprojects

Overall,saltbushsurvivalafter12monthswashighestatBhawani(89%),anddecreasedinthefollowingorder:Dingarh(48%),Sujawal(41%),PindiBhattian(23%)andSadhoke(8%).Thissuggestedthattheshrubswerewelladaptedtoaridconditions,butwerelesswelladaptedtosalt,waterloggingandflooding.Theonlygenotypesthatsurvivedatthemostseverelyaffectedsites(PindiBhattianandSadhoki)werefromthegroupofsaltbushesadaptedtosalinesoilsinAustralia.Thetwospeciesfromwithinthisgroupwithhighestsurvivalwereriversaltbush(Atriplexamnicola)andquailbrush(Atriplexlentiformis).Riversaltbushisshallowrootedandrelativelywaterloggingtolerantforasaltbushspecies.Quailbrushwasdeeprootedandwasthoughttohaverootsthatpenetratedbelowthesaturatedzone.Theprojectteamconcludedthattheforageshrubswerewelladaptedtoaridconditions,butwerelessadaptedtosalt,waterloggingandflooding.UnderidealgrowingconditionsinPakistan,saltbusheshadleafyieldsof5-6tonnesfreshweight(1-2tonnesDM)perhectareperyear.Saltbushproductivitywasrelatedtoharvestingmanagementandsoilconditions(soilcompaction/hardpans,flooding,highsoilsalinity,moisturedeficiencyandwaterlogging).

Oldmansaltbushwasnotincorporatedintothesetrials,becauseatthattimeitwasnotbeingusedforthere-vegetationofsaltlandinAustralia.

ItispromisingthattheprojectdemonstratedthatriversaltbushgenotypesthatweresuperiorinAustralia,alsorankedhighlyinPakistanbutthereweresomefailures.ThisisevidencethatsuperiorgenotypesthathavebeenselectedforAustralianconditionsshouldperformwellinPakistan,however,thisneedstobeconfirmedunderfieldconditions.

6.3.2 ACIAR Project #9302 Forage shrub production from saline and/or sodic soils in Pakistan

Project#9302,involvedDrEdBarrettLennard(DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries,WesternAustralia),DrZahidHussain(DirectorLandandWaterResources,PakistanAgriculturalResearchCouncil,Islamabad),ProfRiazQureshi,ProfM.Aslam,DrShafqatNawaz,ProfRazaGillandProfKishwarIjaz(allfromUniversityofAgriculture,Faislabad)andProfAbdurRashid(AgriculturalUniversityPeshawar).Thisprojectconcentratedonplantpropagationandagronomy;biomassproduction,harvesttimes,plantingdensityandwaterlogging.TheprojectteamconductedsocialsurveysexploringtheimpactofsalinityoncommunitiesinSatianaarea.Economicmodellingwasundertakentoassesstheimpactofsaltbushonfarmprofit.Theteamalsoconductedexperimentswithlivestocktodemonstratecomplementaritybetweensaltbushleavesandcerealstraw.

6.3.3 Other saltbush research in Pakistan NawazandHanjra(1993)investigatedtheproductivityofgoatsofferedmixeddietsofAtriplexamnicolaleavesandkallargrass.Theyfoundthat25%saltbushand75%kallargrasswastheoptimaldiet(determinedonafreshweightbasis).100%saltbushdidnotsupportliveweightmaintenance(aswewouldexpectfromtheAustralianexperience).Waterintakeincreasedwiththeproportionofsaltbushinthediet.

Bhattietal(2009)comparedintakeandproductivityofbuffaloheifersofferedcombinationsofgrass,cloverandsaltbush(Atriplexanmicola).Theyfoundthattheadditionofcloverandsaltbushtothedietimprovedproductivity.TheyconcludedthatsaltbushcanbeincorporatedintheconventionaldietsofNili-Ravibuffaloheifersatupto50%asanalternateforagesourcewhen

conventionalfoddersareinshortsupply,andwhentheirnutrientcontentsarelowduringtheseverewinterandsummerseasons.

6.4 Oldman saltbush improvement in Australia Oldmansaltbush(Atriplexnummularia)isawoodyperennialshrubthatoccursasadominantspeciesinwidespreadcommunitiesovera4000kmrangeinaridandsemi-aridzonesofAustraliawhereithasevolvedwithheavypredationbymacopods,and(morerecently)sheep.Oldmansaltbushisverytolerantofsalineconditionsbuthaslittletolerancetopersistentwaterloggingintherootzone(Barrett-Lennard2003).ItisutilisedinaridandsalinesystemsinAustraliaandacrosstheworld.Thedroughttolerancemechanismsofoldmansaltbushincludedeeproots(canbe>4m),osmoticcontrolandslowgrowthwhenwaterisscarce(Barrett-Lennard2003).Beingbothperennialandinactivegrowththroughthesummerandautumnperiod,saltbusheshavethepotentialtoreduceleakageofrainwatertowater-tablesthuspotentiallyreducingtheeffectsofdrylandsalinity(Barrett-Lennardetal2005).InAustralia,thereisevidenceofoldmansaltbushutilisingsummerrainfallandallowingfornaturalrehabilitationofsalinesoils(Bennettetal2012).Thiswasshowntoquadruplethelivestockproductivityofsalt-affectedland.

Until2006,therehadbeenlittlesystematicefforttodomesticateoldmansaltbushandthemajorityofcommercialplantationswerederivedfromseedcollectedfromnativestands.In2006,aprojectwasinitiatedaftercomprehensivewhole-farmeconomicmodellingtoassessthelimitationsandopportunitiesprovidedbysaltbushwithinthemixedcrop/livestockfarmingsystemofsouthernAustralia(Normanetal2015).Themodelling,basedonanaveragefarminseveralrainfallzonesindicatedthatimprovingtheenergyvalue(digestibilityoforganicmatter),ofoldmansaltbushwouldsubstantiallyincreasefarmprofitability(O’Connelletal2006,Monjardino2010).Sensitivityanalysispredictedthatimprovingshrubdigestibilityby10%wouldincreaseprofitsbythreetimestheincrementassociatedwithincreasingbiomassproductionby10%,orreducingthecostofestablishmentby10%(O’Connelletal2006).Theprojectteamthereforeinitiatedaprogramtoimprovethefeedingvalueofoldmansaltbush,withaprimaryfocusondigestibilityoforganicmatter.Theeconomicbenefitsrelyonsheepchoosingtoincorporatethemoredigestibleplantsintotheirdiets.Otherstudieshadshownthatsheeppreferentiallygrazesomeindividualshrubsbeforeothers,andsomeshrubsarenoteaten(Normanetal2004).Thesedifferencesinrelativepreferencebysheepwerelikelytobeassociatedwithbothnutritivefactorsandthepresenceofplantsecondarycompoundswithobnoxiousand/orantinutritionalcharacteristics,andexcessivesulphur(Normanetal2004,Normanetal2011).Asecondaryaimoftheprojectwastoselectacultivarwithhigherpreferencebysheep.Thefinalselectioncriterionwasanimprovedproportionof‘edible’drymatterproduction(Normanetal2015).

Oldmansaltbushwascollectedfrompopulationsacrossitsnativerangeand60000seedlingswereplantedinreplicatedblocksatthreeexperimentalsites,acrosssouthernAustralia(HobbsandBennell2008).Allplantswereassessedforarangeofagronomictraitsandnutritivevaluewasinvestigatedattheprovenancelevel.NurserysitesweregrazedwithMerinosheeptoassessrelativepalatability.Assessingtheenergyvalueofthesaltbushwascomplicatedbyhighlevelsofsolublesaltanduncertaintyaboutthesuitabilityoftraditionallaboratorymethodsforpredictingdigestibility(Mastersetal2007;Normanetal2010a).Togeneratesampleswithknowninvivoorganicmatterdigestibility,atwo-yearprogramofanimalhousesheepfeedingexperimentswasundertaken.Throughaseriesofanimalhouseandlaboratoryexperiments,nearinfraredspectroscopy(NIRS)

calibrationsweredevelopedtopredictinvitroorganicmatterdigestibility,crudeprotein,ash,neutraldetergentfibreandaciddetergentfibreofsaltbushes(NormanandMasters2010).UseofNIRSallowedforrapidandinexpensivescreeningoflargenumbersofplantsamples.

In2011,thebest12genotypeswereidentified;theyhad20%higherorganicmatterdigestibility,higherrelativepalatabilityandproducedupto8timesmoreediblebiomassthanthemeanoftheoriginalcollection.Organicmatterdigestibilityrangedfrom62-66%andcrudeproteinwas18-22%.Theseplantswerevegetativelyclonedandplantedinreplicatedblockexperimentsat13sitesacrosssouthernAustralia.Thesesitesvariedinlocation,salinity,soiltypeandrainfallandrepresentedthemajorityofsiteswheresaltbushmaybegrown.Plantswereagainassessedforsurvival,productivityandnutritionalvalue.Thetop4genotypesandanindustrystandardwereharvestedandfedtosheepinafinalmetabolismfeedingexperiment;thiswasdoneinordertomeasureinvivoorganicmatterdigestibilityandnitrogenbalance.Thesaltbushwasfedwithcerealhayas50%ofthediet.Basedontheseresults,thefirstcultivar,namedAnamekaTM,wascommercialisedin2014.AnamekaTMmustbepropagatedbyvegetativecuttingsasthebreedingsystemofsaltbushmeansthatplantsgrownfromseedmaynotbephenotypicallysimilartotheparents.Adoptionhasbeenhighandover2millionAnamekashrubshavebeenplantedacrossAustralia.

CSIROarenowworkingwitharangeofpartnerstodevelopeliteseedlinesanddirectseedingmethodologies.Althoughspeculative,coatedseedshaveasignificantpotentialtorevitalisedegradedrangelands.InarecentACIARproject,theCSIROsaltbusheswereintroducedtoAfghanistan.Todatetheyarepersistingwell.TheteamareworkingwithsixAfghanwomentoexploretheopportunityforwomeninvillagestodevelopsaltbushpropagationsmallenterprises.

6.5 Conclusions and future research and development opportunities

Theclimaticconditions,intermsofrainfall(totalandlengthofwithin-seasondrought)andtemperaturearesimilartothesemi-aridzoneofAustralia,whereoldmansaltbushisendemic.ThemajordifferenceistherainfallinPakistantendstobeassociatedwiththehotseasonwhileinAustraliaitisassociatedwithwinter(withsomesignificantbutunpredictablesummerevents).ThesoilsinsouthernAustraliaarepredominantlyold,highlyweatheredandnaturallyinfertile.PreviousresearchwithsaltbushspeciessuggeststhatspeciesthatpersistinAustraliaarealsosuccessfulinPakistan.

Thedistinctionbetweenassessmentofsalinityandsalinityassociatedwithshallowwater-tablesisanimportantdistinction,asrecentworkinAustraliahasdemonstratedthatthesaltbushspeciesthatarebestadaptedtoshallowwater-tablesarenotthebestspeciesforruminantproduction.ExtensionactivitiesareassistingAustralianproducerstoselectthesaline/waterloggedsoils,salinesoilswithoutwaterloggingandaridareas.Theimprovedgenotypesofoldmansaltbusharesuitedtoaridandsalineareasbutnotwaterloggedareas.Understandinglandcapabilityandtheneedsoflivestockwithinthefarmingsystemwillbeacriticalcomponentofunderstandingthepotentialofoldmansaltbushwithinthisproject.

Althoughcausesofsalinitymaydiffer,itisalsoamajorprobleminAustralia.CSIROanditsindustrypartnershavebeeninvestigatingsalt-tolerantforagesforruminantproductiononlandthatistoo

salineforfoodcrops.Theseprojectshavedevelopedabetterunderstandingoftheutilisationofsalinelandforhalophyteproductionandthefillingofnutrientgapswithinruminantproductionsystems.OldmansaltbushisanativeAustralianshrubthatiswell-adaptedtoarid,infertileandsalineenvironments.TheAnamekaTMcultivarofoldmansaltbushwascommercialisedbyCSIROin2015,havingbeenselectedforimproveddigestibilityandpalatability.Anamekaaverages64%digestibilityoforganicmatterand20%crudeprotein,asignificantinnovationforagriculturalprofitabilityinAustralia.CSIROalsohasotherhigh-valuegenotypesofsaltbushthatofferanopportunityforlivestockproductiontobepartofthesolutiontoenvironmentalproblems.Withafocusonsmallruminantsinsmall-holdersystemsandopportunitiesforwomeninshrubpropagationenterprises,thisprojectcouldleadtosignificantlongtermbenefitstotheruralpoor,especiallywomenInvestmentinsaltbushresearchanddevelopmentalsobenefitsAustralianruralcommunities.Economicmodellingindicatesthatimprovedsaltbushvarietiescandoubletheprofitabilityofgrazingsystemsonmarginalland(Monjardino2010).LessonslearntinPakistanwillfeedbackintoAustralianresearchandextensionactivities.TheprojectmayopenopportunitiesforAustralianbusinessestoexportsaltbushseedlingsandassociatedmachineryforseedprocessingandon-farmplantingtoPakistan.

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