It is a matter of grave concern that farmer’s son doesn’t want to become a farmer due to low profitability, heavy post harvest loses, marketing and other challenges, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

It is a matter of grave concern that farmer’s son doesn’t want to become a farmer due to low profitability, heavy post harvest loses, marketing and other challenges, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He stressed upon the researchers to come up with viable solutions to the problems of farming community. He showed his concerns that despite having the sufficient food, 40 percent of women and children are malnourished. He said that government was taking revolutionary steps to address woos of the farming community in the shape of Kissan package and other initiatives. He said that Punjab Agriculture Policy was being redesigned in order to uplift the sector keeping the need of the modern era in view. We are losing upto 40 percent of our produces in the post-harvest process. He said that it is need of the hour to ensure the modern agricultural practice to make the agriculture sector a profitable business. He was of the view that the country was blessed with four seasons, fertile land and talented people. He said with the passage of time, the climate changes occurred that are declining our resources. He said that the university was meant for ensuring the food security, and addressing the problems of the farming community. He said University had emerged as role model institution owing to healthy reforms in research, teaching and outreach programs. He said that it was playing a pivotal role in ensuring food security, and poverty alleviation with the help of quality education, trained manpower, research and outreach program. He said during the last nine years, the University had taken marvelous steps to excel in the different fields. He said it had emerged only institution in the country which is ranked among the top 100 universities in any category. He said in 2008, in the teaching faculty, there had been 40 women which had risen to 150. He said nine years there was only 200 PhD faculty and 9000 students which had risen to 450 PhDs and 24000 students. He said that the University has changed the mindset of the employees and taking the tangible steps in term of research worth Rs 2.5 billion, community building and knowledge. He said that the University had got found the place where policy makers are seeking policy recommendations from the varsity on the different issues including agriculture, social sectors and foreign policy etc. He said that during his tenure, 160 employees had been sent abroad for higher studies where 265 completed the post doctorate from abroad. Principal Officer Public Relations and Publications, UAF, Prof Dr Jalal Arif said in 2008, there was no sign of UAF in the international ranking. But now it has emerged in the list of top 100 elite universities of the globe. He said that the University had made the marvelous development under the dynamic leadership of Prof Dr Iqrar A Khan which will be written in the golden pages of the history. He said that in his tenure, university had taken the funding of Rs 20 billion which is record in the history. He said that the during the last nine years, the expansion in term of per square infrastructure is the equal to the total per square infrastructure from 1906-2008. He said that Punjab Government had given a task of redesigning the Punjab Agri Policy to the Vice Chancellor that will bring the development and prosperity in the sector.