The Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) and University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Wednesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding to foster agriculture research collaboration.

The Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) and University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Wednesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding to foster agriculture research collaboration. The MoU was duly signed by UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar and PARB Chief Executive Dr Noorul Islam Khan at VC Chamber. The collaboration aims at fostering advancement in agricultural research, and commercialization to enhance sustainable agricultural productivity, reduce poverty, and to ensure the food security. In the agreement, it was agreed upon that mutual scientific and technical cooperation under PARB identified research themes will advance the state of science and technology in Punjab and strengthen scientific infrastructure. The PARB will also fund scientists to attend the scientific workshop seminar as per PARB rules and Punjab Government policy. It was decided to mutual cooperation in research projects and activities for commercialization of their outcome of the PARB projects for mutual benefit. The PARB will fund 41 projects of Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security. UAF Vice Chancellor said that the PARB was playing a pivotal role for the development of the agriculture sector. He said that the collaborations will help address the issues of the agricultural sector. He said that UAF was working on the development and promotion of machine picking of cotton. He said that fruit fly has emerged one of biggest threats to agricultural productivity. Dr Noorul Islam said that collaborative efforts are needed to address the issue of fruit fly. He said that PARB was making all out efforts to address the problems of the agricultural sector for the uplift and prosperity of the country. He said that PARB massive projects on whitefly and pinball worm are being run with UAF that will bring tangible results. Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization Director Dr Zahir A Zahir, Institute of Horticultural Sciences Director Dr Aman Ullah Malik, Department of Entomology Chairman Dr Muhammad Jalal Arif, Dr Abdul Rasheed, Dr Abdul Naveed, Dr Khurum Zia were also there.