Productivity: ‘Traditional farming practices hurdle in raising crop yields’

Farmers who won a recent contest had attained 70-80 maunds per acre wheat yield: UAF VC

FAISALABAD: Technology needed to increase wheat yield is available in the country. Traditional farming practices are the only hurdle in the way to achieve high yields, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan said on Sunday.

He was speaking at a wheat harvesting ceremony at Paroka Farms.

He said the farmers who had won tractors in a recent government sponsored contest were successful in producing up to 70 and 80 maunds of wheat per acre. This was more than twice the average per acre wheat yield of 28 maunds, he said. “This means we have the technology and other means needed to enhance agricultural productivity.

Our traditional farming practices remain a hurdle in our way to raise crop yields,” he said.

The UAF vice chancellor said that the country’s population was increasing at a rapid pace. He said it needed to find ways to improve yields of food crops.

He stressed the need for raising awareness about cooperatives farming mechanisms.

He said Faisalabad region had been barren before a network of irrigation canals was laid here nearly a century ago. He said the irrigation channels and the establishment of the Agriculture College and Research Institute had led the promotion of agriculture in the region.

Farm director Farooq Ahmad Khan said use of latest technologies would not only increase productivity but also help ensure food security in the country. He said the UAF was making efforts to promote use of modern farming practices.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2016.