Climate change and maize: preventive strategies for farmers

(Ch. Bahadur Ali Akbar)
Maize is a vital cereal crop in Pakistan, supporting food security, livestock and poultry feed and the agricultural economy. Climate change, through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, droughts, heavy rains and heat waves, threatens maize growth, pollination, nutrient uptake and yield.
Therefore, farmers should adopt preventive and climate-smart management practices to minimize climate-related risks and sustain maize productivity. The farmers should follow preventive measures such as 1- They should select locally recommended, high-yielding maize hybrids with tolerance to heat, drought, waterlogging, pests and diseases. Early-maturing and climate-resilient hybrids can help the crop to complete sensitive growth stages before extreme temperatures occur. Certified seed from reliable sources should be used to ensure good germination, genetic purity and healthy crop establishment. 2- Timely sowing helps maize to avoid extreme temperatures during critical stages such as tasseling, silking, pollination and grain filling.
Farmers should follow locally recommended sowing windows and use weather forecasts to synchronize crop growth with favorable temperature and moisture conditions. 3- Efficient irrigation is essential under changing rainfall patterns and water should be applied according to crop stage, soil moisture, and weather conditions.Adequate moisture during critical stages such as tasseling, silking and grain formation helps to prevent yield losses caused by water stress.Water saving irrigation methods, improved scheduling and proper drainage should be adopted to conserve water and prevent waterlogging after heavy rainfall. 4- Healthy soils with higher organic matter improve soil structure, water-holding capacity, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, helping crops withstand climate stress.Farmers should use suitable organic amendments, retain crop residues and adopt mulching and reduced tillage practices to conserve soil moisture and reduce evaporation. 5- Climate change can affect nutrient availability and use efficiency, while excessive or poorly timed fertilizer application may increase nutrient losses through leaching, runoff and volatilization.
Farmers should follow soil-test-based balanced fertilization, applying N, P, K and essential micronutrients according to crop requirements.
Splitting nitrogen applications and maintaining balanced nutrition can promote healthy growth, improve nutrient-use efficiency and enhance crop resilience to environmental stresses. 6- High temperatures during tasseling and silking can reduce pollen viability, pollination, kernel formation and ultimately maize yield.
Farmers should maintain adequate moisture during reproductive stages and select heat-tolerant hybrids to minimize the impact of heat waves 7- Climate change may increase the occurrence and unpredictability of pests such as Fall Armyworm, stem borers and aphids, making regular crop monitoring essential.
Farmers should scout maize fields once or twice a week, especially during warm and humid conditions, to detect infestations at an early stage.An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach combining field sanitation, timely sowing, resistant hybrids, biological control and need-based pesticide use should be adopted. 8- Farmers should regularly inspect the young leaves for feeding damage, as early detection can prevent severe crop losses.When necessary, use registered insecticides according to recommended thresholds, rotating insecticide groups to minimize resistance development. 9- Changes in temperature, humidity, and rainfall can increase the risk of maize diseases such as leaf blight, rust and stalk rot, particularly under prolonged wet conditions.Regular monitoring, healthy seed, proper spacing, balanced nutrition, good field sanitation and adequate drainage can help to prevent disease development and spread. 10- Farmers should maintain the recommended plant population and spacing for the selected maize hybrid to reduce competition for water, nutrients, and light.Proper spacing improves air circulation, light interception and resource-use efficiency, helping the crop better withstand climate stress. 11- Weeds compete with maize for water, nutrients and light, particularly under drought, and may also a cause of pests and diseases.Timely weed control through cultural, mechanical, and need-based chemical methods can conserve resources and improve maize resilience under climate stress. 12- Farmers should use reliable short-term weather forecasts to make decisions about irrigation, fertilizer application, pesticide spraying and harvesting.
Irrigation can be avoided before expected rainfall, while pesticide application should be planned during dry weather for better effectiveness.
Harvesting should also be scheduled during dry weather conditions to minimize grain damage and post-harvest losses. 13- Healthy soils with adequate organic matter, good structure and biological activity improve water retention and nutrient availability, increasing maize resilience to climate stress. Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, crop-residue recycling, reduced soil disturbance and erosion control can maintain soil fertility and support sustainable maize production.14- Heavy rainfall associated with climate change can cause waterlogging, nutrient losses, soil erosion and root damage in maize fields.
Farmers should maintain effective drainage channels and where suitable adopt raised beds and other water-management practices to remove excess water quickly. 15- Timely harvesting during suitable weather reduces grain deterioration, fungal contamination, insect damage and lodging caused by prolonged humid or rainy conditions.Maize should be properly dried before storage and kept in clean, dry, well-ventilated, pest and rodent-proof storage facilities 16- Sustainable maize production requires a shift from reactive to preventive, climate-smart farming, integrating improved varieties, timely sowing, efficient water management, healthy soils, balanced nutrition and integrated pest management.
Research and extension services are also promoting heat and drought tolerant hybrids, water-saving technologies, improved nutrient management and locally adapted climate-smart practices.Conclusion
Climate change is already increasing uncertainty in maize production. Farmers can reduce these risks by taking preventive action rather than waiting for drought, heat waves, heavy rainfall, pests or diseases to cause serious damage. The key message for maize growers is simple: choose the right hybrid, sow at the right time, conserve every drop of water, maintain healthy soil, apply balanced nutrients, scout regularly for pests and diseases, use weather information, and harvest on time. A combination of scientific knowledge, farmer experience, modern weather information and climate smart technologies can help Pakistan to maintain sustainable maize production despite increasing climatic challenges. (Ch. Bahadur Ali Akbar M.Sc (Hons) Agronomy, Depalpur campus. University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
Dr. Qudsia Nazir Principal Scientist, Soil chemistry section, AARI Faisalabad).