Netherland Ambassador to Pakistan Henny de Vries visits University of Agriculture Faisalabad

FAISALABAD October 7: Netherland Ambassador to Pakistan Henny de Vries has said that the both countries ties would be further deepened in the areas of agriculture and academia. She paid a recent visit to the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) interactive session with the master trainers of the RVO funded potato project. She also called on UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and met with UAF senior faculty. She was flanked by first secretary Mr Ederer, and Sundas Munwar. UAF Dean Faculty of Agriculture Prof Dr Muhammad Sarwar, Director External linkages Prof Dr. Wasim Akram, Principal Officer PRP Dr Jalal Arif, Deans Dr Masood Sadiq Butt, Prof Dr Tariq Javed, Prof Dr Hassan Sarfraz, Dr Asghar Bajwa, Prof Dr Qamar Bilal, Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad, Project focal person UAF Dr. Ijaz Ashraf, CABI representatives, Dr. Umair Safdar (Project Manager) and other spoke on the occasion. She said that next year, we are celebrating 75 years of relationship between both countries and would find areas to further explore how to work together from business to business, government to government, from college institute to college institutes. She said that several areas we can explore including drainage, dairy, horticulture, biotechnology, potatoes seeds etc. She said that she was impressed by visiting the UAF which is one of world class varsities in agriculture. She also appreciated the initiatives taken by the CABI team to disseminate the advance production technology among smallholders especially women and UAF for their technical assistance. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that enhanced ties would bring the tangible results and would help learn from each other's experiences. He stressed upon to need to enhancing collaboration in the seed, dairy, horticulture and academia. He has briefed about on research and development projects on agriculture development led by the university. He said that UAF is one of the leading institutes in the agricultural research and development. It is also working to improve the livelihoods of the small-scale farmers and growers in providing updated information on advance agriculture practices. The project aims to build the capacity of around 1000 smallholders potato growers including women on advance potato production through intensive training and extension program. A complete package covering information form the seed sorting and grading till harvesting has been covered in extensive seven modules that are imparting skills among potato growers on advanced production technologies.