Women farmers can help tackle food insecurity. PHOTO: FILE
“The role of women in promoting modern agricultural practices can tackle food insecurity and malnutrition affecting 58 per cent of the country’s population,” University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmed Khan said on Friday.
He was speaking at a seminar, Improving Female Farmers’ Skills to Enhance Food Production, organised by the Department of Rural Sociology at the UAF.
The VC said agriculture was directly linked with poverty and hunger alleviation.
He lauded women farmers who, in addition to looking after their households, worked in the farms.
“The Punjab has a rich culture and traditions which must be promoted at university level.” This, he said, could give the rural population a better understanding of how to use knowledge to improve goods and services.
Khan said he was of the view that Pakistan was facing threats from food insecurity and depleting natural resources. “In this scenario, greater efforts, on the part of all stakeholders, are needed to fight the crises... We need to ensure women play their role,” he said.
The VC said the UAF and the International Centre for Development and Decent Work (ICDD) had launched a provide livelihoods to farmers.
Farmer Rukhsana Zafar said women farmers could increase their income manifold by applying latest agriculture practices.
“Increased production will not only help them but will also ensure food security,” she said.
Department Chairman Ashfaq Ahmad Maan said the country could not progress without contributions from women.
Agriculture Development Bank’s (ADB) Kanwal Mukhtar said the bank was offering several types of loans to farmers.
Dr Arshad Waseem said Pakistan’s population would reach 204 million by 2015. He said tunnel farming could help farmers increase their profits by Rs300,000 to Rs500,000 per acre annually.
Dr Fawad Ahmad, Naveed Farah, Rashid Waseem, Dr Yaqeeb, and Izhar Ahmad Khan also spoke on the occasion.
The seminar was a part of the four-day Rabi Festival at that UAF that opened on Thursday. The event is meant to serve as a platform where farmers, researchers, teachers, industrialists, entrepreneurs, policy makers and students can interact.
It will go on till October 27th.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2013.
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