Agricultural experts and scientists at a conference demanded that a permanent National Commission on Soil and Water Salinity (NCSWS) should be constituted to coordinate the Research and Development (R&D) work on salinity being carried out presently by different provincial and national institutes. Addressing the concluding session of a two-day International Conference on 'Recent Techniques for Abating Soil and Water Salinity' held at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, they suggested that the reclamation of salt-affected lands with gypsum should be promoted through cost farming community. Agriculture experts and scientists suggested that the quality of gypsum should be ensured as 70 percent purity. Highly degraded lands underlain by brackish water not capable of producing any conventional crops or plantations may be used to establish fish farms of specific fish breeds. The cost sharing for this activity should be 50:50. Improved cultivation techniques should be adopted to grow crops as well as forest and fruit trees by provision of specific farm implements. Use of industrial wastes like press-mud as well as municipal solid waste may be integrated with gypsum to facilitate the reclamation process on salt-affected lands, they recommended. They suggested that Management Practices for poor quality ground water must be adopted to avoid development and dominance of secondary salinity. Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian presently working as multi-disciplinary organisation may be strengthened to deliver according to soil and farmer's specific needs. Linkages with national and international institutions working on similar problems must be strengthened. International forums to exchange experience and research results may be held every alternate year, they mentioned. Survey and mapping of salt-affected soils and ground water quality should be up-graded through the use of Geographical Information System (GIS) modelling and remote sensing. Human Resource Development (HRD) in salinity and water lodging, presently being diluted must be strengthened to tackle the present problems of salinity and water lodging as well as the challenges of future. For the purpose, induction and in-service training institute may be established to cater needs of scientific as well as farming community, they added. The experts and scientists pointed out that the rehabilitation and management of salt affected soils require synergistic strategies involving multi-disciplines. Increase in salt-tolerance and disease resistance of crops through breeding with application of gene-manipulation, selection and bio-technological techniques may be promoted. Such varieties must be multiplied and distributed in areas confronted with high salinity problems. Dissemination and marketing of imported technologies without testing under local agro-environments must be banned and tube-well installation be regulated to check excessive draw down of ground water table. Prominent agricultural scientists and scholars from all the four provinces and federal government along with foreign delegates from Oman, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Australia presented their research papers and shared their experiences of mutual interest. Addressing the first session, Dr Muhammad Rashid, Director General Agriculture (Research) Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad said that salinity and sodicity are acute problems of Pakistan as 2.66 million hectare is affected in Punjab, while the affected area of the country is 6.68 million hectare. Dr Rashid in his address on 'management of salt affected soils and brackish water' stated that salinity and sodicity are global problems and out of 230 million hectare irrigated land of the world, 45 million hectare is salt affected. He said that India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, USA, Egypt, Thailand, Australia, Argentina and South Africa are badly affected countries and extent of problems in Pakistan is estimated at 6.8 million hectares. He informed that the scientists have developed salt tolerant varieties and crop sowing methods, which have contributed in controlling this problem. He also highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts of all agriculture research institutions to tackle this problem. Professor, Dr Rao Iftikhar Ahmad, Dean, University of Agriculture Faisalabad in his address emphasised the importance of applying latest techniques to reclaim salt affected land. He pointed out that biotechnology techniques could be helpful in developing salt tolerant varieties. He appreciated the efforts of AARI scientists in strengthening national economy sustainability in agriculture production. Dr Shehzada Munawar Mehdi, Director, Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian welcomed the participants for attending the conference and said that the conference would be helpful to guide the struggle to control salinity and sodicity and in sharing experiences and techniques for mutual benefit. Copyright Business Recorder, 2008