The UAF in collaboration with Punjab Agriculture Department is strengthening soil analysis and fertilizer prediction model through ICT

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with Punjab Agri Department is strengthening soil analysis and fertilizer prediction model through Information and Communication Technology in the 36 districts of the Punjab. The programme provides the information about inputs requirements and latest practices to the farming community through SMS, call centre and web in order to increase the productivity and solve their problems. It was discussed at meeting chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. Agri Extension Dept Director General Dr Anjum Ali Bhuttar, Agri Information Punjab Director Rafiq Akhtar, Registrar Muhammad Hussain, Treasure Umar Saeed, Dr Rasheed Ahmad, Director Soil Sciences Institute Director Dr Javaid Akhtar, Ayub Agri Research Institute Director General Dr Abid Mahmood, Community College Principal Dr Khalil-ur-Rehman and Dr Ahsan attended the meeting. The Vice Chancellor said that the farming community needs to given awareness regarding the latest practices. He was of the view that the project will prove the milestone as the information be provided to farmers for solving their problems through discussion with experts on phone and internet also. He also said that farmers’ facilitation centre would be set up at the UAF. He said that majority of the farmers in Pakistan were the small farmers. The country is losing heavy money because of imbalanced use of inputs. By making it rationalized though awareness to farmers, millions of rupees can be saved. He said the UAF had established a fertilizer prediction model in collaboration with Punjab Agri Department. Website (fertilizeruaf.pk) had been set up guiding the framers about the balanced use of fertilizer. Dr Anjum Bhuttar said that keeping in view the cost of production, balanced use of input was vital for the progress of the country. He said that his department was making all out efforts to sensitizing the farming community about balance use and modern practices in order to ensure the food security. He said the project was a complete package for the famers providing experts opinion. He said that the project entered in the second phase would bear the fruit in term of increment in production. Prof Dr Rasheed Ahmad briefed the meeting about the project He said that food security was one of the areas of the concern. The project will bring tangible results to increase the productivity and increase the profit of the farmers with the utilizations of balanced use of inputs and the new varieties of the crops etc.