KISR develops techniques for mass production of seeds and desert plants
Desertification remains one of the foremost environmental issues in Kuwait
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) continues to conduct necessary studies and research to meet the challenges in the field of greening in order to expand the green area in Kuwait and preserve natural resources.
Kuwait Times spoke with two expert researchers in the project of the development of techniques for mass production of seeds and desert plants. During our exclusive interview, scientific researchers Laila Al-Mulla and Dr Narayana Bhat explained the future of this project and how it will be utilized as part of the Kuwait Vision 2035.
According to Dr Bhat, the project started in 2012 and is scheduled to finish in March 2020. “The main purpose of this project is to establish the facilities and techniques required for mass production of native seeds and plants for different uses,” he said.
He added that desertification is one of the foremost environmental issues in Kuwait, where the situation remains to be a major concern due to continuing loss of native vegetative cover, excessive soil erosion caused by wind and water and the salinization of irrigated lands. “[This is] besides natural events and human activities that have greatly accelerated this process,” he said. “The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait and subsequent military activities have adversely impacted the terrestrial ecosystems further, resulting in the disruption of natural plant succession process and recovery of vegetation cover.”
Dr Bhat noted that the rehabilitation of degraded lands is considered an effective way to combat desertification and restore ecosystem functioning. “Since native plants are well adapted to their local environment, utilizing them for restoration purposes is highly sustainable,” he indicated. “It also provides low-cost feed for livestock grazing and sources of seed and valuable gene pool for research, as well as a source of medicine and organic matter to the soil. Native vegetation cover reduces soil erosion and captures mobile sand and organic matter, while it also improves the percolation of water through the soil profile.”
He continued by saying that Kuwait’s native plants are of enormous scientific value because they represent a transition between semi-desert and desert vegetation as well as serve a valuable gene pool for heat, drought, and salt- tolerance research. As for the Kuwait Vision 2035, Dr Bhat said that the project is in line with the ambitious development plan also known as ‘New Kuwait’ “which targets sustainable economic development by using natural resources.” He further noted that the plan seeks to develop the technology and methodology to help the private sector push their quality of work to a new level.
Technological package
Mulla said that the main goal of establishing the infrastructure and intensive production of fungal plant seeds is to develop a technological package through which the user can produce the intensive for fungal plants that Kuwait lacks, and which the private sector also needs
“because by doing this, we create investment opportunities for the agricultural companies to produce huge quantities.” “This is a sustainable method that helps stimulate and increase green areas in Kuwait and greening projects and restore the affected areas,” she added.
She said that the project has many outcomes and benefits for Kuwait’s developmental plan. “The main benefit is that the project will develop a technology package based on KISR’s prior experience on mass production of native plants and seeds that can be licensed,” she indicated. “It also help produce and store native seeds, and establish nucleus test plots to meet the needs of future research and development projects. The outcome of this project will serve as resources for undertaking long-term research on native plants and ecosystem restoration and storing the superior ecotypes of native species, as renewable natural resources would provide valuable genetic material for future research and sustainable implementation. Also, semicommercial seed storage facilities established in the project will be available for biodiversity conservation, which is a national priority.” Mulla added that this project will create world-class research facilities that will be of great benefit to the scientific community in Kuwait, the region and globally, as well as to local producers and consumers.