Agro-Ecological Zoning in Punjab - Pakistan

A team of scientists and researchers from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, in collaboration with FAO and Government of Punjab (Agriculture Department) worked together to delineate the Agro-Ecological Zoning (AEZ) in Punjab.
AEZ refers to the division of Punjab region into land resource mapping units, having a unique combination of landform, soil and climatic characteristics, and/or land cover.
Based on the most up to date collected information on natural resources, climate and agricultural markets, AEZ reveals an enormous potential for crop diversification and productivity. And it is the need of the hour in a country where population is rapidly growing and where climate changes (increases in temperature, changes in rainfall pattern, extreme weather events) evidence the vulnerability of the current agricultural systems.
From a side AEZ will help to make smallholder farming a profitable business and overall enhance agriculture efficiency.
On the other side, policymakers will be able to use data of AEZ and associated information on land characteristics (soil quality, topography, agricultural land use, yield etc) to formulate optimal policies for sustainable agricultural production.