Packages Limited delegation along with Principal Officer PRP Dr Jalal Arif visits Postharvest lab

Tens of thousands of trees are being cut down for packing of fruits, vegetables and grains, posing a threat to the environment due to deforestation. The other environment friendly and modern techniques of the packing can reduce the impact. It was discussed at a meeting chaired by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. Expert from Packages Limited Hassan Asif and university scientists attended the meeting at syndicate room. The Vice Chancellor said that country was losing 40 percent of agriculture in the post harvest handling. He said that the UAF and Packages Ltd jointly will develop the packaging material to give benefit to the customers and farmers instead of middleman. He said that if the modern methods are adopted, the agricultural productivity can be boosted up manifold. He said that the world was in the grip of food insecurity. In this regard, enhanced efforts are needed to deal with the issue and to alleviate the hunger. He said that pollution is increasing due to trees being cut down damaging eco-system. He directed the Department of Entomology and the institute of Horticultural Sciences to establish a lab aimed at efforts in the horticultural sciences and entomological aspects jointly. Hassan Asif said that the banana post harvest losses are standing at upto 50 percent. His company had devised a mechanism to reduce to losses at the level of ten percent. He called for joint efforts on the part of the Packages and UAF would bring the tangible results. He said that the post harvest losses are the hurdle to get the full potential from the sector. Dean Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal said that the country needs to increase the storage capacity that will reduce the losses. He said that the country was actively working on the alternative ways of packaging. Dr Amanullah Malik said that modern post harvest treatment will bring a value addition to our agricultural goods. The promotion of the technology is the need of the hour. Principal Officer PRP Dr Jalal Arif said that the heavy use of pesticides had increased the resistance in the pests. The new method Integrated Pest Management was essential to curb the diseases in agriculture. Prof Dr Mansoor-ul-Hassan said that Entomology Department was working on food and cereal post harvest by using the indigenous herbs that will bring the fruitful results. Prof Dr Nazir Javed( Plant Pathology), Dr Abdul Ghafoor (IBMS), Dr Atif Randhawa (NIFSAT), Dr Sagheer Ahmad, Dr Sajid and others were also present on the occasion. Later, the visiting delegation with Principal Officer Prof Dr Jalal Arif visited the post harvest lab.