Secretary Agriculture, Punjab Azmat Ali Ranjha along with UAF Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Iqrar A. Khan inaugurates the Bio-Gas Plant at UAF Campus

The dream of Agricultural Productivity and food security could not be fulfilled without utilizing collaborative efforts between public and private sector R & D organizations and other stakeholders . This was stated by Secretary Agriculture, Punjab Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha while presiding over the Dean’s Committee meeting at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad on Saturday at New Syndicate Hall. He added that new innovations and agronomic approaches should be adopted to exploit our maximum yield potential in Agricultural and Livestock sectors. Mr. Ranjha urged the scientist to develop Genetically Modified seeds keeping in view the changing weather conditions and global warming challenges being faced by farmers of the region. He was of the view that water should be on the top priority of our scientific research in order to introduce efficient use of irrigation water. Secretary Agriculture underlined the need for more mechanized farming to minimize the role of manual operators and more farm laborers. Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan Vice Chancellor of UAF while giving presentation highlighted the role of university in order to coping future challenges. He said that varsity is striving to generate more research grants on competitive grounds. He maintained that the volume of research grant has been raised from 400 million Rupees to 1890 million during last five years. UAF Vice Chancellor said that Agricultural Policy Center would be established in August this year and would become a milestone in policy making at national level. Dr. Khan said that a 5-Day International Tent pegging and Horse Riding Event would be held at UAF Campus from 8th February. Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi also gave briefing regarding Integrated Model of Renewable Energy and said that under one umbrella University has established Bio-Gas Plant, Solar Energy Power Generation System, Bio-Fuel, Fish Farm and other Units which are complementing each other to make it more efficient and sustainable. Secretary Agriculture also visited Post-Harvest Lab, Centre for Agricultural Biochemistry & Biotechnology (CABB), Rosa Lab, Citrus Green House, Solar Technology, Veterinary Hospital & Pathology Lab, Newly Developed Brassica Variety of UAF Farm, Monsanto Exhibition Plot and Poultry Farm and lauded the quality of education & Research of UAF Scientists.