Agricultural scientists will develop stress-tolerant germplasm for cotton and wheat and heat-tolerant livestock in order to fight climate change and food insecurity issues that would worsen in coming years.

Agricultural scientists will develop stress-tolerant germplasm for cotton and wheat and heat-tolerant livestock in order to fight climate change and food insecurity issues that would worsen in coming years. It was decided at the second round of research grant review meeting held under the banner of the US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, University of Agriculture Faisalabad in which 280 research proposals across the country were tabled. The meeting was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while University of California, USA’s Professors Dr Jim Hill, Dr Thomas Rost, Dr Nancy, CAS-UAF Chief of Party Dr Bashir Ahmad and MNS Agriculture University Multan Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asif Ali, Dr Masood Sadiq Butt, Dr Hafeez Ahmad Sadaqat, and other experts also attended the meeting. The research was themed in 11 priority areas including vaccine development for foot and mouth; agriculture germplasm for wheat and cotton, pest management strategies; control of tree dieback; increasing health and nutrient value of food, biotechnology, water security and policy matters. The Vice Chancellor said it is firstever commissioned research in Pakistan which will bring tangible results in the span of 2 to 3 years. He said that cotton production had faced 35 percent decline this year due to the climate changes. He said that in the years to come, the climate changes and shrinking water and land resources, and food insecurity would further aggravate and will result in decreasing agricultural productivity. He said that the joint efforts of scientists from different institutes would be carried out under the research to achieve the goals. He said that mixed flour of wheat and maize should be introduced for the food fortification. He said that due to heavy deforestation, pollution, and other man-made disasters, the climate changes were taking place, resulting in extreme weathers. Therefore, the heat tolerant germplasm of major crops is the need of the hour. Dr Jim Hill said that food security was the challenge for the world. He said that the world population was standing at 7 billion that would touch to 9 billion by 2050. He said that heat tolerant varieties were the prerequisite to fight the challenges of modern era. He added that the researches under the CAS would provide the solution for the food security and rural development in the country. Dr Bashir Ahmad said that irrational usage of water was costing the country. He said that the country had been placed in the list of red zone in term of per water availability. So we need to adopt the policies to create the awareness among the masses about the rational usage. He said that the CAS was meant for the food security. The five chairs had been established under the Centre for Advanced Studies in Food Security and Agriculture. Dr Rao Asif Ali said that per acre production of major crops was facing the stagnation for last many years. He said that per acre agricultural productivity was very low due to traditional way of farming and uncertified seed. He said that we have to adopt the measures for increasing the per acre production. Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that more than 50 percent of our population was facing malnutrition. He said that tangible research would be conducted to address the issue.