Workshop on drought-resistant crop varieties held

It will help mitigate water shortage and climatic changes in country

LAHORE: Punjab University, in collaboration with the RIKEN Centre for Sustainable Resource Science, Japan, organised an international research workshop on “Drought Stresses, Challenges for Agriculture and Mitigation Strategies” in the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB).

Faculty of Life Sciences Dean Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan in his inaugural address urged that agriculture experts should divert focus to the development of drought resistant agriculture varieties like cotton, rice, wheat and vegetable to mitigate water shortage and climatic changes in the country.

He appreciated the role of CEMB as being the most productive centre of the faculty of life sciences. At least 100 participants attended the workshop. Eminent Japanese plant scientist Prof Dr Motoaki Seki, and Dr Khurram Bashir joined the workshop as international speakers.

Food Agriculture and Research Ministry Joint Secretary Saleem Raza,  Dr Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Syed Hassan Raza and other officials also participated in the research project development workshop. On the occasion, CEMB Director Prof Dr Tayyab Husnain briefed the honorable guests and participants about research activities done at CEMB.

Syed Hassan Raza briefed the participants about drought condition in Pakistan. He appreciated the productive research done at CEMB.

Dr Khurram Bashir emphasised on project of mutual understanding between CEMB and Plant Genomics Network Research Team, RIKEN, Japan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2018.