International Conference on “Linkage Value Chains and Development along the Rural Urban Interface”

Around 80 percent of the people will be migrated to cities by 2045 across the globe. The massive urbanization is aggravating the problems that must be curtailed by creating state-of-the-art facilities and employment opportunities to the villagers at their doorsteps. This was stated by speakers at the inaugural session of four-day International Conference titled “Linkage Value Chains and Development along the Rural Urban Interface ” arranged by Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with the International Centre for Development and Decent Work (ICDD). UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan chaired the session. Addressing on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor said that per person agriculture land is diminishing in the country, compelling the rural to migrate in the cities for earning their livelihood. He added that increase in agri production will not boost up the earnings of the farmers but also help the country reduce the migration. He said that the rural people must be educated and equipped with state-of-the-art agricultural techniques and practices. He praised the steps being taken on the part of the Punjab Government to set up Model Agri Markets that will save the farmers from the exploitations of middlemen. Talking about the livestock sector, he said that the per annum milk production of an animal in Pakistan was only 2000 litre compared to 9500 litre in Japan. Department of Rural Sociology Chairman Prof Dr Ashafaq Mann said that the massive migration to cities was witnessed in the county in search of jobs, health and education facilities. If we provided the rural population with the said opportunities and entrepreneurship skills, the migration can be lowered down. He also stressed the need to empower the women that will bring prosperity in the country. Agricultural Expert from Japan Keshab Batajoo talking about the livestock sector in Japan said that country was having 1.45 dairy animals that was 2 million in 90s. He said that the milk production in his country was 7.2 million tonnes. He stressed the need to adopt the modern practices to increase the livestock productivity. He said that the manpower in livestock sector in Japan has started to decline because of industrialization. Agri Expert from South Africa Andrew Bennie said that the ICDD conference will help the people to know about the real issues. Talking about sociology, he said that sociology provides the solutions to the problems of the people. Dr Manzoor Ahmad said that there is need to develop the rationalized mechanism in the inputs prices and the production prices. He said that rural must be provided the job opportunities by setting up agri processing and value addition industries in rural areas. Department of Livestock Management Chairman Dr Muhammad Younas said Pakistan is blessed with the four seasons and the talented people. He added that increase in the agri production was vital. The women empowerment will also help to get the goal. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. The improved agriculture practices will become a tool for the poverty alleviation. Dr Abdul Ghafoor said that 45 percent labor is associated with the agriculture sector providing 21 percent to the Gross Domestic Product of the country. He stressed the need to increase the storage capacity as Pakistan is losing 40 percent of Agri production in post harvest losses. He said that solid waste management should be installed to get the benefit from the waste. Anbreen Ajaib from Strengthening Participatory Organization said that child marriage as defined by UNICEF is the marriage prior to the age of 18 years is a hard reality for over 60 million women worldwide. She said that Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are the worst victim of the child marriages. Plenary Session Enhanced efforts are needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in order to alleviate the poverty and hunger worldwide. This was stated by experts at the plenary session of International Conference titled “Linkage Value Chains and Development along the Rural Urban Interface ” arranged by Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with the International Centre for Development and Decent Work (ICDD). UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan chaired the session. Addressing on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor said around 842 million people remain hungry in the world because they cannot afford to eat adequately. He added over 70 per cent of world’s food-insecure population lives in rural areas in developing countries. He said that value addition of the agriculture produces was essential. Pakistan was producing a good number of fruits and food commodities. But, it is lagging behind in the global market due to deficiency in modernizing its supply chains according to world standards. ICDD Executive Director Dr Christoph Scherrer said that eradication of poverty and hunger from the world was priority. He said that value addition in Pakistan has lot of room for improvement and a system needs to be devised in this regard. He added that there is need to uplift the sector in Pakistan by sensitizing the people about the latest practices. He said that reaching out of experts to the farmers increases the productivity. He the UAF is the strong partner in the ICDD program. He added that they had three month reach-out programme in Germany. The ICDD initiated the programme at the same pattern in South Africa also, he added. Dr Andrew Buerkert said that urban value chain was very important for supply fresh milk in cities and to create job opportunity in the sector. He also called for enhancing the investment in the rural infrastructure. He said that water was the one of the areas of concern. He added that animal feed was the costly item that must be addressed. He also stressed the need to boosting credit opportunity to the farmers to increase the productivity. Department of Livestock Management Chairman Dr Muhammad Younas also spoke.