Speakers at a seminar called for strengthening farming community, and academia- industry linkages to ensure the food security and fight the daunting issues of low agricultural productivity, uncertified seed, and climate changes, and low profitability in the agricultural sector.

The seminar was arranged by the Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with Engro Fertilizers at New Senate Hall UAF. Chairing the session, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asif Tanveer said that strengthened academia industry linkages were pivotal to address the problems of farming community and uplift the sector. He added that that poverty alleviation was directly linked to the agriculture sector. The country is far lagging behind in the modern trends. He lauded the steps being taken on the part of the government for the uplift of the sector. He called for stepping up efforts to enhance the agricultural production. He added that the agriculture was the backbone of our economy, contributing 19 percent to Gross Domestic Product of the country. Chairman Agronomy Dr Shahzad Ahmad Basra said that the agrarian productivity can be boosted up manifold by transferring modern technologies to small farmers comprising 90 percent of the farming community. He added that climate variability is more vulnerable than the climate change affecting our whole production system. He said that the super food, and workout must be made to lead a healthy life. Engro Project Director Partnerships and Value Expansion for Inclusive Seed Systems (PAVE) Abid Ilyas said that PAVE Pakistan is business inclusive project jointly funded by DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Australia and Engro Fertilizers. He said that the under the project, as many as 4500 smallfarmers had been trained so far. And the y had made 2500 farmers as certified seed users. He said PAVE, Engro was meant to develop the seed value chain of rice, wheat and vegetables in Pakistan. Inclusive businesses are commercially viable businesses that improve the livelihoods of the most vulnerable in society. Dr Fahad Rasul said that climate changes were playing havoc not only with the lives of people but also with the agriculture sector. He urged the participants to expedite the efforts for the food security in the country. He was of the view that the country was blessed with four seasons, fertile land and natural resources.