'Solar energy need of the hour to counter energy crisis’

FAISALABAD: The promotion of solar-based energy and technologies would not only help the country overcome the energy crisis but also boost the agriculture sector by narrowing post-harvest losses.

University of Agriculture Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said this while chairing the inaugural session on Attentive Energy for Community Development. The event was arranged by Department of Energy Engineering, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.

He said, “At least 95% milk remains unprocessed in Pakistan. If we promote pasteurised milk technology at village level, it will help address the issue.” He added the university had developed a milk chiller that will save nutritive values of the milk.



The VC maintained the country was producing huge quantity of biomass and field residue every year that must be converted into electricity as an alternative way.

Pakistan Agriculture Research Council’s Engineering Division Director General  Dr Munir Ahmad said the country was producing millions of tonnes of dates but only 20% were dried with sunlight. He stressed upon the need to promote solar dryer.

Faculty of Agriculture and Engineering Dean Dr Allah Buksh said pasteurised milk could be preserved for a longer period, while the farming community do not get proper price for milk due to non-availability of processing facilities at the farms.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2016.