For a healthier society: ‘Govt should provide one egg, two dates to students’

LUMS chancellor says agriculturists should develop model farms of mangoes.

FAISALABAD: At least 50% children are facing malnutrition for which one egg and two dates should be provided to the students by the government and private educational institutions. The initiative will help lead towards a healthy society.

This was said by Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Pro-Chancellor Syed Babar Ali on Tuesday. He was speaking to a gathering of experts at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.

Babar added there was a need to exploit the potential of agricultural sector. He said, “Mangoes grown in Pakistan are in high demand across the globe due to its aroma and taste.  We have to put our focus on meeting the demand of world standards with value addition.”

He said the country was blessed with tremendous resources and agriculturists should develop model farms of mango, citrus and dates.

The LUMS pro-chancellor pointed out, “Our society cannot succeed without involving women in socio-economic activities and bringing them into the mainstream.”  He said empowerment of women was vital to get sustainable development and to fight the challenges.

Meanwhile, UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said majority of Pakistani dates were of inferior quality. If we initiate value addition, we can earn foreign exchange worth billions of rupees.

He said the UAF has developed a short duration cotton variety that will increase the productivity. He added, “There is a huge margin to grab world market in the export of dates for which we have to adopt the international standards.

Department of Rural Sociology Chairperson Dr Ashfaq Mann women were standing shoulder to shoulder with men in socio-economic activities in the developed countries. He said the women need to explore their inbuilt leadership qualities.

Prof Dr Amanullah Malik said, “With the postharvest techniques, we can not only save the productivity but it would also help in the exports of agricultural produces.”

He urged the growers to make necessary arrangement of crop handling as a sizeable volume of fruit was destroyed during handling, transportation and storage.

Dr Izhar Ahmad said the University was making all out steps for the development of the agriculture sector and to polish the skills of the students and farmers.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2017.