‘Rs305b can be saved by ensuring balanced use of fertiliser’

Experts say need to produce more food from the same land to meet challenges of food security

FAISALABAD: The country can save upto Rs305 billion by ensuring balanced usage of fertiliser in fields. This was discussed at a meeting on Saturday of fertiliser model experts held at Post Graduates Research Station (PARS) of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) with Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar in the Chair.

Principal Investigator Fertiliser Model Dr Muhammad Rashid gave the presentation while Dean Agriculture Dr Muhammad Amjad, Dean Science Dr Muhammad Asghar Bajws, Principal Community College Dr Haq Nawaz Bhatti, Director Soil Sciences Dr Javed Akhar, Principal Officer Public Relationsand Publication Dr Jalal Arif, Assistant Prof Ahsan Raza and Computer Sciences Chairman Tasneem Mustafa attended the meeting.



Speaking on the occasion, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said: "We cannot apply fertiliser of Faisalabad Model at Multan region as the soil texture, fertility, and analysis is entirely different from each other."

“The UAF has developed a successful balanced fertiliser model that can be accessed through its website and mobile application named “fertilizer calculator”. He said there was need to produce more food from the same land to meet challenges of food security. Dr Muhammad Rasheed said: "With the balance usage, we can increate wheat productivity by 35% and maize by 40%."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2017.