Inaugural session of conference on "Potential and Prospects of Data Generation for Improving the Precision of Fertilizer Prediction Models”

Speakers, at a Stakeholders Conference on “Potential and Prospects of Data Generation for Improving the Precision of Fertilizer Prediction Models” on Saturday at old senate hall UAF, said that due to in-efficient use of fertilizers 1400.71 million US $ were being dumped annually in cultivated lands of Punjab Province which could be minimized through newly designed and introduced precision of fertilizer prediction models by the scientists of \University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The inaugural session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, VC University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) where as Dr. Anjum Ali Buttur, Director General Agricultural Extension Punjab, Dr. Muhammad Arshad, Director, Institute of Soil & Environmental Sciences UAF, Dr. Muhammad Rasheed, Ex- Director General AARI Faisalabad, Dr. Shahid Mehmood, Director Soil Fertility Punjab, Mr. Nadeem Tariq, Mr. Riaz Ahmad, Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Dr. Abdul Majeed and Dr. Khuda Bukhsh also spoke on the occasion. Dr. Iqrar said that UAF has planned to establish state of the art forecasting and prediction mechanism through GPS via satellite in collaboration with SPARCO. He added that a soil testing laboratory equipped with modern technologies would also be opened for farming community which will also generate data regarding prediction models. Dr. Khan urged the scientists to develop various Farmers friendly packages comprising solution their problems. He maintained that UAF was striving for transforming the knowledge into goods and services. Dr. Anjum Ali Buttur said in 2003-04 the cost of production of Wheat was 9,028 rupees/acre while share of fertilizer input was Rs. 1,316 whereas in 2012-13 cost of production has jumped up to 3,1490 rupees/acre in Wheat with the fertilizer share of Rs. 6,550. He said that due to inflation the prices of fertilizers are touching the sky. Dr. Muhammad Rasheed, said that we can save Rs. 208 billion by ensuring balanced fertilizers input in Punjab province every year. Dr. Rasheed added that the soil fertility status of our soils was declining with the passage of time in general. He maintained that the Nitrogen (N) was deficient in almost all the soils which were so alarming. Dr. Rasheed said that more than 90% soils had inadequate available Phosphorus (P) level and in more than 40% soils Potassium (K) deficiency was also affecting the crop yields. He added that among micro-nutrients Zinc (Z) and Boron (B) were 50% soils respectively. He revealed that a project, synthesis of available fertilizer trials data for site-specific recommendations and diagnostic survey for low-adoption of fertilizer use technology” would be a milestone in the field of efficient use of fertilizers and enhancing agricultural productivity. Dr. Muhammad Arshad said that initially fertilizer prediction model was being exercised in 36 Districts of Punjab Province for recommendation to the farming community regarding expected production and this would be extended for other crops within short span of time. Mr. Ahsan Raza Sattar, Assistant professor, who developed this unique software conducted the conference.