UAF NEWS

Experts at an international entomological congress at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Monday said that excessive usage of pesticide was not only playing havoc with the lives of people but also devastating environment. For which, we have to adopt the modern practice including Integrated Pest Management, toxicology, biological control and others.

The congress was jointly arranged by Department of Entomology, UAF; Pakistan Entomological Society, and Conteva Agriscience at Iqbal Auditorium. Chairing the inaugural session of three-day congress, Punjab Minister for Social Welfare and Bait ul Maal Muhammad Ajmal Cheema said: agriculture sector, which is the backbone of the economy, has been facing different challenges including pest management, low productivity and profitably issue for farming community. He said that despite being the agriculture sector, we are importing agricultural produces worth billions of rupees which was a matter a concern. He said that agriculture scientists should come up with viable solutions to problems so that we can make the agricultural development rapidly. He said that the present government had been taking marvelous initiatives for the uplift of the sector. He was of the view that agriculture was the most important sector to ensure food security and to alleviate poverty. He said that the steps are afoot to improve the conditions of the farming community that will enable them to increase the productivity. He said that the government considers the suggestions of the academia and researchers more seriously. UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa said that agricultural experts should devise strategies and work on fighting harmful and selective pests keeping public health, crops production and farmers friendly insects in view. He said that every creature is born with some advantages we have to explore it. He said that pesticide bill of the country was touching billions of rupees for which there is a need to develop local pesticide with academia, industry linkages. He was of the view that the scientist who got his degree from abroad is unable to perform in our homeland due to non-availability of enabling environment. He said that university is ready to accept the challenge to decrease import bill if provided enabling environment. He said that lack of availability of skilled technicians was hampering the process of the development. He said that keeping in view, the university is setting up Directorate of Skilled development for the purpose. He lauded measures being taken on the part of the university for welfare of the people. He said that under the PM housing scheme, the university offers its land to the Punjab government for setting up multi-storey residential units for university employees and public . Chairman PES President Hafiz Abdul Qayum said that the university had the long history of producing the agriculrual experts and skilled manpower which worked day and night for the uplift of the country . Chairman Entomology Dr Mansoor-ul-Hassan said that the experts of the conference will come up viable solutions over controlling the pest in the light of the experiences of developed nations as well. He said that the country was blessed with tremendous talent. There is a need to tap the potential. He said that the moot will cover IPM, insect ecosystem , epidemiology, bioinformatics, biological control, toxicology, conservation and others. Ghazi University Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Tufail , Kothli University Vice Chancellor Dr Dil Nawaz Gerdezi, University of Sardodha Dean Dr Muhammad Afzal, Dr Jalal Arif, Dr Waseem Akram, Dr Sohail Ahmad, Dr Waqas Wakeel, Dr Farooq Ahmad, Dr Zain-ul-Abedien, Dr Abid Ali, Dr Dildar Gogi, Dr Ahmad Nawaz, Dr Sufiyan, Dr Tayyab, Dr Bilal Saeed, Dr Sagheer, experts from China and Turkey and other notables attended the inaugural session.