PARB, UAF ink MoU to encourage agricultural research

Move will help reduce poverty and ensure food security

FAISALABAD: The Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) and University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) inked a Memorandum of Understanding to foster agriculture research collaboration.

The agreement was duly signed by UAF Vice-Chancellor Muhammad Iqbal Zafar and PARB Chief Executive Noorul Islam Khan at VC Chamber. The collaboration aimed at fostering advancement in agricultural research and commercialisation to enhance sustainable agricultural productivity, reduce poverty, and to ensure food security.

It was agreed that mutual scientific and technical cooperation under PARB identified research themes will advance the state of science and technology in Punjab and strengthen scientific infrastructure.

The PARB will also fund scientists to attend scientific workshop seminar as per PARB rules and Punjab Government policy.

It was also decided to extend mutual cooperation in research projects and activities for commercialisation of outcome of PARB projects for mutual benefit.  The PARB will fund 41 projects of Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security.

UAF Vice-Chancellor said that the PARB was playing a pivotal role for the development of the agriculture sector. He said that the collaborations will help address issues faced by the agricultural sector.

He added that UAF was working on the development and promotion of machine picking of cotton. He said that fruit fly emerged as one of the biggest threats to agricultural productivity.

Dr Noorul Islam said that collaborative efforts were needed to address the issue of fruit fly.

He said that PARB was making all out efforts to address the problems of the agricultural sector for the uplift and prosperity of the country.

He maintained that PARB massive projects on whitefly and pinball worm were being run with UAF that will bring tangible results.

Office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation Director Zahir A Zahir, Institute of Horticultural Sciences Director   Amanullah Malik and others were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2018.