U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer along with U.S. Consul General Lahore William K. Makaneole visits the Center for Advanced Studies, University of Agriculture

FAISALABAD June 4: U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer along with U.S. Consul General Lahore William K. Makaneole visited the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and called on UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. They also witnessed the ongoing research and development activities being carried out by the Center for Advanced Studies (CAS) in Agriculture and Food Security, UAF. Dean Faculty of Agriculture Prof Dr Muhammad Sarwar Khan, Chairman Entomology Prof Dr Jalal Arif, Director CAS Prof Dr Sultan Habib Ullah, USAID Development Outreach Specialist Arshia Bano, UAF’s Prof Dr Asif Kamran, Dr Muhammad Imran, Dr Zaheer Ahmad, Research Associates Nehal Ahmad Khan and other notables attended the meeting. Mutual concerns to ensure food security were discussed. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, while giving a briefing, said that UAF in collaboration with Washington State University was working on climate resilient and high yielding wheat varieties that would prove a breakthrough to increase per acre productivity. He shared that wheat is being cultivated on a larger area of land in Punjab and that technologies for wheat, as per the pattern of maize, are essential. New technologies will not only increase productivity to meet local demands but also help spare lands for other crops. When talking about soybeans, he added that the university had a newly cultivated variety of soybean on trial at 100 farms, that too, has the ability to enhance production. He added that the UAF was committed to address farming community concerns at their doorstep with agriculture development. UAF is taking all possible measures to address the agricultural challenges with tangible research work, outreach, skilled manpower, and collaborative work worldwide. He said that the University will launch the seed program nationwide as per the directive of the Planning Commission. He said that intervention in the livestock sector was the need of the hour to ensure food security.