Punjab Agricultural Secretary Rashid Mehmood on Wednesday asked researchers, extension workers and other stakeholders to make joint efforts in order to increase agricultural productivity and to address the issues of farming community.

Punjab Agricultural Secretary Rashid Mehmood on Wednesday asked researchers, extension workers and other stakeholders to make joint efforts in order to increase agricultural productivity and to address the issues of farming community. He was chairing agricultural experts meeting at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Director General Research Dr Abid Mehmood and other experts attended the meeting. He said that the Punjab Government was taking all possible steps to solve the issues of farming community and increase per acre production. It will help in reducing poverty in the country.The cotton production, latest technology, planter and fertilizer uses came under the discussion. He urged the experts to map out an applicable and out-of-the-box plan for increased agriculture to benefit farmers and consumers as well. Majority of population is associated with agriculture that is backbone of our economy, he said, adding that it is contributing 21 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. He was of the view that the heat tolerant and short duration crop having the increased yield potential was the need of the hour to ensure the food security for ever-growing population. He urged the experts to give proper guidelines to the farmers community about increasing the yield. He said that steps were afoot for the uplift of the agriculture sector. He said that the Pakistan was blessed with the four season and best ecological zones. He expressed his concern the that up-to-date statistical data must be produced that will help in working in the right direction. He said that water scarcity issue is also a matter of concern. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said UAF in collaboration with the Punjab Agri Extension Department had developed fertilizer model , giving the guidelines to the farming community about proper fertilizer usage. He said the he USAID funded Center for Advanced Studies in Food Security and Agriculture has been officially launched in collaboration with the University of California, Davis. A Chinese government funded Confucius center has started working on the campus. He assured of UAF full cooperation aimed at increasing the production and reducing poverty. He said that the UAF was taking all measures for the agricultural development and to address the issues of farmers and other stakeholders through research, academia and outreach. Dr Abid Mehmood gave the briefing about the cotton saying that Pakistan is the fourth largest countries in the world in the cotton. He said that this year record cotton production is witnessed in the country.