‘Turning green into gain’

FAISALABAD: An International Agriculture Centre is to be set up at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) to provide expertise on genetic revolution, climate change, biotechnology, precision agriculture, efficient use of agricultural input by linking the 50-year legacy of UAF with present day needs.

UAF vice chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, while addressing the inaugural session of horticulture week at the Institute of Horticultural Sciences on Monday, said that UAF had made tremendous progress in its outreach program over the past three years. “Our scientists go door-to-door and visit farmers even in remote areas of the country,” he said.

Khan said that the University of Western Australia intended to offer scholarships for conducting research in flood-hit areas in collaboration with UAF. “The university has produced 850 PhDs in the last fifty years. In the past one year, more than 85 scholars have earned their PhD degrees from this university,” he said. The vice chancellor said that by virtue of scientific contribution, agricultural productivity had witnessed five times the previous yield.

“We know we need to transform ‘green into gain’, which will ease out the farmers problems,” he said.

He described horticulture as vital for the country’s export due to its tremendous growth potential as many new avenues were set to being explored over the next few years. Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, Director Institute of Horticultural Sciences Professor Dr Amjad and others also spoke on the occasion.

Students from UAF, Government College University and other institutions also took part in the program.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2011.