The Entomology Department celebrates French Highest Civil Award conferred upon Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, UAF for his tremendous services for Education and Research

FAISALABAD June 19, 2015: The country is importing insecticides worth $ 110 million which is the matter of concern, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He was addressing at the annual function of Department of Entomology, UAF. Dean Faculty of Agriculture Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad and the Department Chairman Prof Dr Jalal Arif also spoke the occasion. Addressing to the participants, he said that import of insecticides went up by 47 percent to 23,033 metric tons in July-May 2013-14 from 15,692 metric tons in the same period of last fiscal year. He said that fifty per cent of pesticides in the country are highly hazardous and their residues are reason of the outbreak of the many diseases. He said water containing pesticides, when used for drinking purposes, can be harmful, ranging from mild headache and skin allergy to cancer of internal organs. imgHe said that modern practices like integrated pest management must promoted and practiced in the fields in order to reduce the hazardous usage of pesticides. He was of the view that plant protection measures help in increasing per hectare yield by protecting the crops from damages by controlling the pests. A continuous process of research and education is being embarked upon to minimize the pest and disease losses. He also added that the traditional methods of cultivation were keeping per-acre productivity at low levels and the average yield was just a quarter of regional countries. Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad said that it is also the duty of pesticides agencies concerned to ensure distribution and sale of products to the farmers without compromising ethical standards. He said that diseases limit the production of crops, vegetable and fruit. Effective disease management is prerequisite for high quality production. Its control includes certified disease-free seeds, timely sowing or planting in well-prepared, fertile soil and controlling weeds and insect pests. He said that the entomology Department was making sincere efforts for the noble cause of controlling the diseases. He lauded the Chairman of Entomology for his untiring efforts for quality standards and management skills. Prof Dr Jalal Arif said that tangible researches are being carried out in Entomology Department UAF to limit different diseases including whitefly, dengue, etc. He said that they were partnered with the Punjab government in the dengue awareness campaign. He said UAF had become the hub of research, dialogues and academic activities. He said that the UAF research and development portfolio had touched to 10 billion under the leadership of Vice Chancellor. He added that they were creating the skills among the students to become self employed with their innovative ideas rather than looking at the jobs. The participants also celebrated French Civil Award conferred upon Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, UAF by cutting the cake on the occasion