Farmer Day

FAISALABAD March 27: As many as 90 percent of agricultural soil is nitrogen deficient whereas 15 to 20 percent post-harvest losses are adding to the burden on the farmers. Therefore, farming community should adopt experts’ recommendations that will not only increase productivity but also make agriculture a profitable business. It was stated by experts on the farming day held at farm of Muhammad Azeem Tarana at Moza Khai. The event was organised by University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab Agriculture Extension Department, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute and Fatima Group as part of Regional Agriculture Forum (Central Punjab) collaborative initiative. Farmers from 7 Union Council and 19 villages attended. In his virtual address, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali said crop-wise collaborative efforts, under the Forum, on all stakeholders were being enhanced to address the agricultural challenges and showcase the modern technology among the farmers. He also underlined the need to map out strengthen and weakness in the agriculture sector. He lauded the steps being taken on the part of the government for agricultural development and address the farmers issues. Addressing on the occasion , UAF Dean Agriculture Prof Dr Ghulam Murtaza said that irrational usage of inputs was not only boosting up cost of production but also create hindrance to benefit from agrarian potential. He urged them to follow the experts’ recommendations regarding inputs, mechanization, varieties, and efficient water techniques. He said that the country was blessed with four seasons, fertile land but we are not tapping the potential due to rational away of farming. Chief Scientist Wheat Ayub Research Dr Javed Ahmad urged the wheat growers to adopt the latest technique to narrow post-harvest losses. Dr Khalid Mehmood, Director Extension said that the government was taking all possible measures for agricultural uplift and providing subsidy on input and mechanization. Dr Amir Maqsood said that UAF has developed uafferlizer app that provides tehsil and crop wise fertilizer recommendations to the farming community. He said that nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency was provoking 35 percent decline in the productivity. Dr Muhammad Sabbir said that deteriorating health soil can cause food insecurity crisis. Therefore, the farmers are advised to make the soil analysis and apply rational use it inputs. Fatima Group Deputy Manager Muhammad Imran said that fertilizer deficiency was causing 40 percent decline in the productivity. He briefed about the different initiatives Director Agri Extension UAF Dr Babar Shahbaz said Regional Agriculture Forum Central Punjab reaffirmed commitment for collaborative efforts on the part of academia, research, extension, farming community and industry with integrated approach. Dr Ikhlaq Madassor from Sugarcane Research Institute urged the farmers to apply approved and high yielding varieties and briefed about different initiatives. Amanant Ali Technical Section Officer Fatima Group said that Ph of our soil is high and we have to measures in this regards . Dr Muhammad Kahsif, Dr Muhammad Aslam, Dr Rizwana Maqbol, Assistant Director Extension Dr Khalid Pervez also atteneded.