ISLAMABAD: Scientists in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province have developed a potato variety that can withstand smoggy conditions and are working to come up with more, state media reported on Tuesday as Islamabad seeks to protect the food crop from worsening air pollution.
Pakistani cities in the eastern Punjab province regularly rank among the world’s most polluted ones during the winter season each year. Prolonged exposure to smog has increasingly affected agriculture and reduced sensitive crops’ yields. This results in delayed harvests as poor air quality increases the vulnerability of crops to pests and diseases.
Scientists at the Potato Research Institute (PRI) in Punjab’s Sahiwal city have been working to develop potato varieties capable of withstanding conditions of smog and fog, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
“Among locally produced varieties, Ijaz-22 is a smog-specific potato that has successfully tolerated smoggy conditions in Punjab,” Dr. Syed Ijazul Hassan, PRI Director Sahiwal, said as per the APP.
“PRI has already developed 12 fog-tolerant, high-yielding potato varieties and is now focusing on smog-tolerant lines.”
