UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and Nestle Pakistan Ltd Managing Director Ian James Donald exchange documents after signing MoU to enhance cooperation in research and development

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Nestle Pakistan Ltd will enhance their cooperation in the areas of agricultural and livestock researches especially keeping in view uplift of agrarian and dairy sector to increase milk, meat production and per acre yield with highly nutrient foods. In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding was duly signed by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and Nestle Pakistan Ltd Managing Director Ian James Donald. National Institute of Food Science and Technology Director General Prof Dr Faqir Muhammad Anjum. Nestle Chairman Syed Yawar Ali and other notables were also present on the occasion. The Nestle will also invest in internship and general scholarships for the UAF students to increase the skills and equip them with the state-of-the-art education. The UAF Vice Chancellor said that nutrient food is one of the areas in which country was lagging behind. Tangible steps on the part of farming community and scientists are required to ride out the challenge. He showed his concern that per animal milk production in the country was very low compared to other countries despite the fact that we were having 50 million livestock animals. He added that the Pakistan was the food sufficient country but the water issues are disturbing the situation. He called for devising a roadmap to provide the nutrient food to the people of the country with the help of researches and giving awareness to the masses. The Nestle Pakistan Ltd Managing Director Ian James Donald urged the university scientists to give them suggestions to meet the challenges of food security and nutrient food across the country to redress the sufferings of common man. He showed the commitment of his organization to step up efforts in this regard. He added that the economic growth in Pakistan was less than India that must be expedited to meet the challenges of the growing population. The Nestle Chairman said that milk production per animal in Pakistan was many fold below the other counties,that is a serious concern. He stressed the need to join hand in order to redress the suffering of farming community by taking initiative to increase the productivity that will not increase the income of farmers but also help earn foreign exchanges for the country.