Seminar on Quinoa

As many as 6.8 million hectare of land in the country is under the grip of salinity, raising the threat of food insecurity. The land can be cultivated with sowing of climate and saline resistance crops as a step towards increasing the production and to alleviate poverty, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He was taking to the participants of seminar on Quinoa arranged by the JK Agricultural Farms. DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, Farms Head Anwar Javaid and Director General Extension Anjum Bhuttar were present on the occasion. The Vice Chancellor said that Quinoa is having the resistance against the saline and climate changes. It is also a gluten free food and help lower down the threat of increasing blood pressure in the county. He said demand of the gluten free food is increasing. The country has the potential to tap the international market by promotion its cultivation. The demand of the quinoa only in United States is sanding at 43 million US dollar. He said that world key players of the production include Peru, Bolivia, Chilli and Argentina. He directed the UAF scientists to make the research on the crop so that the best one would be promoted in the county. Briefing the audience about the importance of quinoa, Prof Dr Shehzad Basra from the Department of Crop Physiology said the world production of quinoa is standing at 90 thousands metric tonnes. He said that Pakistan per acre quinoa production is 32 mounds whereas the country has the potential of getting 80 mounds per acre. DCO Noorul Amin Mengal said that the agriculture is the backbone of our economy, contributing 21 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. He said that the increase in per acre production was essential to ensure food security. Anwar Javaid said that adoption of modern techniques and practices will pave a way for increasing the agricultural productivity of the country.