‘Research and innovation best way forward’

Information sharing to boost agriculture: Minister.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Ministry of National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has said that continuous sharing of experiences and innovative ideas among farmers, agricultural researchers and the private sector will boost the agriculture sector.

The minister was speaking at the 2nd Food and Agriculture Organisation Alumni Associations Network (FAO-AAN) Share-Mela organised by the United Nations and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) here at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC).

Representatives from 75 small-scale farmers’ organisations, 25 research institutions and private sector enterprises participated in the Share-Mela.

While speaking on the occasion, Patrick Evans, FAO representative in Pakistan spelled out a new future policy framework. Evans said that the FAO will focus on four important areas – food security and nutrition, economic development, capacity building and disaster management.

He stated that Pakistan had great potential in the agriculture sector, adding that the biggest challenge to food security was the burgeoning population of the country which was expected to reach 350 million by 2050.

In order to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition, it was imperative that latest technological advancements and innovative techniques be employed to improve the productivity of land, emphasised the representative.

The federal minister said that the Share-Mela will open up an opportunity for farming communities from across the country. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2013.

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