National conference on “Prospects, Challenges and Strategies to maximize sugarcane production”

It is a matter of concern that Pakistan is standing at 60 number in per-hectare production of sugarcane worldwide despite the fact that it is the fifth largest county in sugarcane cultivated area. This was echoed at national conference titled “prospects, challenges and strategies to maximize sugarcane production” arranged by University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Ayub Agricultural Research Institute( AARI). The inaugural session of the event was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while Sugarcane Research and Development Board Punjab Chairman Nauman A Khan, AARI Director General Dr Abid Mehmood, UAF Agriculture Faculty Dean Prof Dr Arshad and Endowment Fund Executive Director Prof Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir and Chairman Agronomy Prof sDr Ehsanullah Chahal also spoke on the occasion. Addressing on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor said that the Punjab Government had set up Sugarcane Research and Development Board in order to address the issue of sugarcane. It will help the county increase the sugarcane productivity. He was of the view that tolerant varieties need to be introduced through biotechnology keeping the challenges of climate changes and global warning in view. He said that board had been set up with the 10 percent of total sugarcane cess money. He maintained that value addition and adoption rate of latest tools and practices were the weak area. It may be strengthened by raising the awareness. He also informed the audience that the UAF scholars had written 150 thesis on the sugarcane that must be transformed into goods and services. The poverty alleviation is directly linked to the rural development where agriculture is the only source of income for the inhabitants, he added. Nauman A Khan lauded the steps being taken on the part of Punjab Government to boost the agricultural productivity of the province in a bid to ensure food security. He said that the collaborated efforts on the part of experts, scientists and stakeholders were essential to catch up to the modern world in term of per acre production. He vowed to extend the full cooperation on the part of the Board to strengthen the sugarcane production in the country. He hoped that the workshop recommendation will prove fruitful for boosting up production. Dr Abid Mehmood said that over one million hectare, sugarcane is being cultivated in the country. It is providing the employment to 1.5 million people. He said that that 70 percent of the export of Pakistan is related to the agricultural sector whereas rest of the export was coming from the other sectors. He also suggested introducing new varieties and making these and other efficient varieties available for the farming community. He also recommended using the organic fertilizer source to reduce the cost of production; water conservation methods and usage of agricultural machinery for boosting up production. Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad said that agricultural was the backbone of our economy and 45 percent of the manpower was associated with it. He also called for collaborated efforts to coping with sugarcane challenges and to ensure the food security. Prof Dr Zaheer Ahmad Zaheer said that conference is aimed at providing a platform to scientists, researchers and stakeholders to finding the solution to increase sugarcane .