Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr. Farukh Javed visits UAF

Punjab Government intends to introduce reforms and new interventions in the agriculture sector to enhance the productivity and bridge the gap between various stakeholders aiming at making good coordination that would lead towards agricultural development and prosperity at rural landscape. Said Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr. Farukh Javed, he was attending a briefing by UAF VC Prof Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan at new syndicate hall of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Farukh Javed described the climate change a big challenge that would drive the future dynamics of the country and region at large “Pakistan is more vulnerable than the other country of the region” he added. He said the changing rains, flood, melting glaciers and rising temperature merit research on one hand and adaptive and mitigating measures on the other hand. He appreciated the efforts being made by the UAF Engineers by designing efficient biogas tube well and vowed to upscale the project at provincial level. Describing the Lyallpur Model an excellent example to follow, he expressed his willingness to establish a vibrant platform to bring all institutions and organizations on table aiming at promoting better coordination and integrating on various projects. He revealed that the Punjab Government had revived the district agricultural advisory committees and looking forward to take all stake holders on board to formulate a progressive policy at district level. He vowed to inspect agricultural fields of small farmers to witness the contributions of extension staff and monitor the professional activities to how they educate the farmer and making suitable interventions in the cropping fashion of the region. Earlier, briefing the visiting minister UAF VC Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan described the federal higher education budget a fresh air and said that whole academic community expresses happiness on the pro-education initiatives. Referring towards PML(N) manifesto about institutional reforms and agricultural development, Dr. Khan said that a dream of making the country self-sufficient in edible oil, we need to promote oilseed crops in the country to limit the import bill worth 3 billion dollar on edible oil. He said that during the last five years UAF has earned global recognition by QS World University ranking, NTU Ranking and IDB best S&T institution, adding that in advanced countries, ranking distinguishes the universities in funding that needs to be considered in the country. “University intends to open its offshoots in the northern Punjab and rice belt districts to transform its cropping cycles and bring new interventions of high productivity and profitability” he added. During the last five years, he said, the first degree courses at UAF have been reached from 11 to 23, and financial assistance cover jumped to 26 percent from 10 percent in 2008. “We are producing graduates for only government jobs but also giving them training of technocrats to market their skills and earn in a competitive world” he said. He told the visiting minister that a lion share of citrus trees have been affected by various diseases that reduced the productivity to manifold adding that we need to transform the nurseries on international trends. Spelling out the future agricultural challenges, he urged that we need to produce 29 million ton wheat during the next two years to feed the growing population on one hand and to avert the daunting challenges of food insecurity, and poverty on other hand. Dr. Khan urged the need to intervene in different cropping cycles, and make tangible interventions to enhance the farmers’ profitability and get rid of middle man and market exploiters. He said UAF scientists had identified 10 mango verities to be marketed globally that could harness the benefits of trade and earn millions of dollar foreign exchange. Dr. Ahmad urged the minister to make the students internship a recurring program of the government that would not only help the students to equip themselves by hands on training and on the other end, they would educate the farmers about emerging sowing, irrigating, harvesting, transporting, storage and handling trends.