The inefficient methods of agricultural farming are making our cost of production higher than international markets which is not only aggravation the problems of farming community but also posing a threat of food insecurity.

The inefficient methods of agricultural farming are making our cost of production higher than international markets which is not only aggravation the problems of farming community but also posing a threat of food insecurity. This was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while addressing a second consultative meeting on current status and future prospectus of adoption of Precision Agriculture in Pakistan arranged by Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, University of Agriculture Faisalabad at Video Conference Room . He said that country was lowest ranked in the adoption of bio technology. He said that only in the case of wheat, progressive farmers were getting 80 mounds per acre against the average per acre production of 28 mounds. The is a big gap between potential yield and the production of small farmers, he said, adding that developed countries were using the system of precision agriculture and cooperative farming, resulting in increasing the productivity manifold. He said precision agricultural would help address the problems like low productivity, high cost of production, and increasing productivity to ensure the food security Dalhousie University Canada Precision Agriculture Chair Dr Qamar Zaman said that the 30 percent of the fertilizer can be saved by using the modern technologies. He said the world population would touch to 9 billion and cropland area is decreeing. He said that the smart controller and sprayer would be helpful to decrease the cost of production. CEO Farmers’ Associate Pakistan Afaq Tiwana said that farming community must be educated about the benefit of mechanization that will not increase the productivity but also minimize the cost of production. He said He said that the modern trend and technology needs to be adopted as the precision agriculture has gained the immense importance in the world. He said that the adoption of modern technology will not only increase the production but also ensure the balance usage of inputs. CAS Chief Of Party Prof Dr Bashir Ahmad stressed upon the need to find the solution of the problems of the farming community. He said Precision Agriculture is the answer to the issue of increasing cost of production. He said that the PA would help increase the production that would be helpful for the food security of the country. He said that the country was blessed with the tremendous resources. There is the need to tap the potential. He said that USPCAS-AFS is working in five dimensions including Precision Agriculture. Faculty of Agricultural Engineering Dean Dr Allah Buksh called for facing up to the challenges by developing cohesive and sustainable strategies to promote the mechanism in the farmer field. He said that ground and underground water quality was deteriorating and the measure must be taken in this regard. CAS Precision Agriculture Chair Head Dr Muhammad Jahanzeb Chema said that the consultative meetings were being conducted to promote the technology in the country. He said that the we are wasting inputs worth billion of rupees as we don’t have the mechanism of PA . He said that the amid the increasing popuatlion it has become need of the hour. PARC Agricultural Engineering Division DG Dr Munir Ahmad called for adopting the precision agriculture in the country. He said that the country was facing the different challenges including low productivity, food security and water scarcity. He said that the initiatives are taken to address the issue at national level. Eng Azhar Noor from Millat tractor, Dr Umer Fareed from BZU, Multan, Dr Abu Bakar from LUMS, Dr Liaq Hassan from UET Peshawar and other notables also spoke on the occasion