Speakers at farmer convention on Monday said that the government’s Kisan package worth 100 billion would pave the way for the uplift of agricultural sector which is directly linked to poverty alleviation and food security in the country.

Speakers at farmer convention on Monday said that the government’s Kisan package worth 100 billion would pave the way for the uplift of agricultural sector which is directly linked to poverty alleviation and food security in the country. It was echoed at the farmers convention arranged at Iqbal Auditorium, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. It was arranged by UAF in collaboration with Public Relations Department Faisalabad . The session was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Faculty of Agriculture Dean Prof Dr Abdus Salam, Canadian Dalhousie University Expert Qamar Zaman, Dr Joseph; UAF Deans Dr Iqbal Zafar, Dr Allah Buksh, Dr Masood Sadiq Butt, Dr Muhammad Javed; Dr Zafar Iqbal Queshi, Dr Ehsanul Haq, Dr Sajjad Ahmad, Dr Tahir Siddique and other notables also spoke on the occasion. Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that encouragement of farmers cooperatives, balance usage of inputs, model market reforms, adoption of modern agri methods at par with modern world, certified seed, climate resilient varieties, balanced usage of fertilizer and precision and mechanized agriculture are prerequisite to increase agricultural yield and ensure food security. He said that the mechanism should be devised to lower the cost of production to make it compatible to the world markets. He said that all-out efforts are being made to conduct focused research to meet the challenges of the era on the direction of Punjab Chief Minister for the food security, per acre production increment and rural development. He said that the sector would be moved towards comparatives agriculture. He said that government was making all-out efforts to address the problems of farming community and to flourish the agricultural sector by making it profitable business. He said that Punjab government had arranged a conference on agriculture to find the solutions to the emerging issue of the sector with targeted investment. He said that population of Faisalabad has increased 100 times from 70,000 to 70 lakh since 1947. The number of agricultural markets should be increased with the same pace which did not boost up. He criticized the role of markets committees in the past and stressed upon active role in the development. Prof Dr Abdus Salam said that we have to increase per acre production from the same land. The population of Pakistan will be doubled by 2050 which demands more food. He said that climate changes were posing a serious threat for the agricultural sector. He said that climate resilient varieties are need of hour. He said that the country was blessed with the talents and resource. There is the need to tap the potential. He said the government was taking revolutionary steps for the promotion of the agricultural sector. Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman said that precision is the way to reap maximum productivity by utilizing minimum resources by environment friendly measures. He said that the adoption of modern technology will not only increase the production but also ensure the balance usage of inputs. He was of the view that the 30 percent of the fertilizer can be saved by using the said technology. Dr Joseph said that the cooperative system enables the farming community to reap the benefit of the advanced technologies. He said that such effective system in Pakistan would increase the productivity and address the problems of the farmers. Dr Allah Buksh said that the country had become water scare country therefore we should adopt the measures for the efficient usage of water. Dr Masood Sadiq Butt stressed upon the need for agricultural reforms and to address the issue of malnutrition. Dr Iqbal Zafar called for devising a mechanism for the stability in the prices of agricultural commodities. He stressed upon the need for construction of setting up silos for agricultural for grains storage on public private partnership. Dr Muhammad Javed said that agricultural land was diminishing we have to increase the per acre production. Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi said that per acre milk production was low that is an area of concern. Dr Tahir Siddique urged the scientists to pace up efforts for the food security.