Farmer Convention

Farmers community needs to apply and promote the latest practices of agriculture in order to increase the productivity to fight the hunger keeping in view increasing population and depletion land and natural resources. This was stated by speakers at the Farmer Convention arranged by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad that was co-chaired by Food Security Secretary Seerat Asghar and Cimmyt Director General Dr. Thomas Lumpkin at Iqbal Auditorium. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Director General Extension Dr Anjum Ali, MNA Muhammad Afzal, Dean Muhammad Arshad, Director Wheat AARI Makhdoom Hussain, Monsanto representative Amir Iqbal, Chairman Agronomy Dr Ahsanullah, Dr Muhamamd Manzoor , Dr Muhammad Azhar, Dr Meher-un-Nisa and other also spoke on the occasion. It was the part of ongoing UAF’s four days festival. Cimmyt Director General Dr. Thomas Lumpkin said that population is increasing and natural recourses are decreasing which is a real challenge. For which we have to expedite the efforts. He was of the view that we have to work for the future by increasing the per acre production. He said that prices of the electricity is increasing which is boosting up cost of production. He said that Cimmyt is working with Pakistan for the last fifty years. Now the company is working on hybrid wheat that will help increase the wheat manifold. Food Security Secretary Seerat Asghar said that the agriculture is the life for the country as a large number of people are associated with the field, contributing 21 percent to the Gross Domestic Product of the county. He urged the farming community to apply the latest practices to increase the productivity. He said that the world is under the grip of food security because of climate changes so we have to take measures in this regard by boosting up per acre production. Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that world had to promote the Genetically Modified crops especially in the developing countries to alleviate the hunger from the country. He suggested the farmers to apply the dual crops in the field in order to increase the productivity. He said that the country is importing the pulses and palm oil worth 3.5 billion. If we adopt the mixed crops, the issue can be tackled. He suggested cultivating pulse with sugarcane. DG Extension Dr Anjum Ali said that the kitchen gardening must be promoted across the country that will help provide the sufficient food to the people. He said extension department was doing it best to provide the training to the farmers and giving the seeds in the 36 districts of the province. MNA Muhammad Afzal said that the farmers play a pivotal role in the development of the agricultural sector. He praised the UAF festival that bring the scientists and farmers closer and provide a platform to get the benefit from their expertise. Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad said that the Pakistan is the losing 40 percent of its crops in the post harvest losses. He said that the UAF is doing its best to transform the knowledge into the goods and services. Dr Muhamamd Manzoor called for get the benefit from the bio gas in order to reduce their cost of production in the agriculture. Dr Mehar-un-Nisa informed the farmers about the importance of the silage and its different ways. The UAF also distributed the seed of different crops and kitchen gardening among the participants. As many as around 2,000 farmers participated at the convention.