The country population will become double by 2050 for which tangible steps are needed to ensure the food that is a challenge for experts, policy makers and stakeholders.

The country population will become double by 2050 for which tangible steps are needed to ensure the food that is a challenge for experts, policy makers and stakeholders. This was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while talking to meeting of assistant professors and lecturers at New Senate Hall. Registrar Muhammad Hussain conducted the proceeding. The Vice Chancellor said that as per reports, the world would be having 75 percent more food than its requirement by 2050 due to latest technologies. He said that the adoption of Precision Agriculture and Genomics are essential to reduce the cost of production and get the more food from the same land. He said that University was making all-out efforts for addressing the issues of the farming community, stakeholders, civil society and the campus community. He said quality education and tangible researches pertaining to social, scientific, industrial and agricultural issues work as engine for bright future of the country. He said that the University had introduced 42- demand driven new degree prgrammes keeping in view the need of the modern era. He said that the University current enrolment has increased 50 percent in the last three years. He said as many as 50 percent of the enrolment consist of women and the university was actively working on gender mainstreaming. He said that the university was taking all measures to educate the needy and deserving people. In this regarding the Financial Aid Office is providing scholarship worth Rs 90 million annually. He also announced for faculty members who obtained the indigenous PhD to be send abroad in order to gain more confidences. He said that Teachers Resource Center would be established at the campus for the trainings of the faculty. He said that Confucius Center was set up at the campus with the help of China He said the UAF has also established the Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security worth 30 million US dollar sponsored by USAID. The centre is focused on climate changes, biotechnology, precision agriculture and policy researches. He also thanked Punjab Government for setting up state-of-the-art hostel for 1000 students at the UAF. It will be biggest hostel in the country. He urged the teachers to refurbish the abilities of the students as country was blessed with the tremendous talents.