Agriculture experts at a consultative meeting on Saturday called for building dams, farm mechanization, climate resilient varieties, mitigation strategy of climate changes, demonstration of modern agricultural practices at farm level, usage of Information and Communication for agriculture sector and measures to control deteriorating ground water quality.

Agriculture experts at a consultative meeting on Saturday called for building dams, farm mechanization, climate resilient varieties, mitigation strategy of climate changes, demonstration of modern agricultural practices at farm level, usage of Information and Communication for agriculture sector and measures to control deteriorating ground water quality. The meeting titled prioritization of research areas was organized by US Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies (USPCAS) in Agriculture and Food Security, University of Agriculture Faisalabad(UAF) at New Senate Hall. Addressing on the occasion, former National Assembly speaker Fakhar Imam said that at the time of inception of the country in 1947, agriculture sector had been contributing 50 percent to the Gross Domestic Product whereas now, the sector was taking 21 percent share in the GDP. He added that India was providing heavy subsidy on the sector compared to our homeland. He said that like wheat, support price mechanism for the maize, cotton, and other crops need to be initiated. He lamented that per capita water availability had declined to 800 cubic meter which was 5000 cubic meter in 1947. The water scarcity is hitting our economy. But unfortunately, we had failed to build a big dam for the last 42 years. He added that floriculture had gained immense importance but the country share in international markets is negligible. He added that investment on floriculture would bring development and prosperity. He showed his concern that we were importing machineries and could not produce our own machineries. He maintained that by promoting the seedless kinnow, we can bring sell it at the international market with good profit margin. He added that the four decade ago, the per acre productivity of the cotton of India and Pakistan was near to each other. But now India is getting 40 mounds and China 35 mounds compared to 10 mounds in Pakistan . UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan stressed upon the need to develop the heat tolerant germplasm of the different crops. He said that climate changes were posing the serious threat to the agriculture and the lives of the people. He said that we have to develop the strategies to mitigate the effect of climate changes and carbon. He added that the world was using the precision agriculture that increases the productivity from the less resources. Our farmers have to move towards the mechanization. He urged the scientists to develop the seed which are suitable for mechanization farming. He said that the agriculture land was being converted into the residential colonies that is a matter of concern. He said that the He said that Punjab government was giving the interest free loan of Rs 100 billion to the farmers that is a hallmark step. He added that ever-increasing population was causing serious challenges for which we have to educate the people about the population control. PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Dr Rai Niaz Ahmad said that we must have the demonstration place for the modern technology in order to guide the farming community about the trends. He said that agricultural graduate internship at rural schools will help address the issue of the agriculture with the awareness among the school students. He said that the high efficiency irrigation system was vital to address the issues of the water scarcity. Progressive Farmer Habib Ullah Bhutta said that Allah Almighty had blessed us with the tremendous resources. It is our responsibility to tap the potential for the benefit of the mankind. He said that water was the basic for the life. But we are not taking care of this blessing of Allah Subhanhotallah. He viewed that India was building the dams but we could not build a single dam for the last 40 years. He said that Muslims were 24 percent of the world population and having the 40 percent of world resources. He said that we lags behind the world because we did not pay the attention to the science and technology. Dr Manzoor Hussain, Dr Anjum Ali Bhuttar, Dr Nancy from University of California, USA; Dr Kauser Abdullah Malik; Progressive farmer Afzal Rizvi, Progressive farmer Faisal Shah; USPCAS Chairs Dr Muhammad Jahanzeb Cheema, Dr Bushra Sadia, Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Chattha, Dr Baber Shahbaz, Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, and other notables also spoke on the occasion.