The meeting of Regional Agriculture Forum Central Punjab.

FAISALABAD Aug 1: The meeting of Regional Agriculture Forum Central Punjab has called for enhanced collaborative efforts on the part of academia, research, extension, farming community and industry with integrated approach for ensuring food security in the face of changing climate. The meeting chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zulfiqar Ali while Dean Agriculture Dr Ghulam Murtaza, focal person Director Agriculture Extension UAF Dr Babar Shahbaz, Chief Scientist Wheat Ayub Research Dr Javed Ahmad, Director Agriculture Extension Punjab Khalid Mehmood, Director Horticulture UAF Dr Ahmad Sattar, Director Graduate Studies Dr Muhammad Khalid Bashir, Dr Bushra Sadia, Dr Rao Sabir and others attended. The meeting noted that crop wise collaborative efforts on all stakeholders be enhanced and demonstration fields will be jointly set to showcase the modern technology and create the awareness among the farmers. The meeting also called for strong academic industry linkages, knowledge sharing, foster innovation and commercialization of research and development. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali said that climate change, depleting natural resources, and the increasing demand for food require coordinated and science-based solutions. He stressed that universities, research institutions, government departments, and the private sector must work together to accelerate the transfer of innovative technologies from laboratories to farmers' fields. He said that strengthening research-extension-farmer linkages and promoting climate-smart agriculture would enhance productivity, improve farmers' livelihoods and ensure sustainable food security for the country. Dr Babar Shahbaz said