Pakistan needs investment in agricultural research

Official says there is dire need to adopt modern technologies to boost sector

KARACHI: Researchers have stressed the need for adequate investment in agricultural research to help boost the economy of the country.

At a seminar held at the National Nematological Research Centre (NNRC) of Karachi University on Tuesday, 25 researchers, representing different agriculture universities of the country, highlighted the significance of nematode identification for better management of agricultural sector of Pakistan.

“The specific method related to identification of nematodes is said to be highly efficient and through proper investment, it can be used as an important source of information and enable farmers to protect their crops,” they underlined.

Addressing the participants, Karachi University Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that the varsity was making extraordinary efforts to promote research culture in the country.

He was of the opinion that Pakistan direly needed to adopt modern technologies and techniques to boost its agricultural growth.

Speaking at the occasion, ECO Science Foundation President Manzoor Hussain Soomro shared the working and services of his centre, adding that promotion of improved methods in teaching of science was one of the prime initiatives of the ECO Foundation.

He mentioned that the organisation focused on the evaluation of existing training facilities in the region and formulated training programmes aimed at building highly skilled scientific and technical manpower.

He added that the foundation also designed programmes to strengthen the scientific, engineering and research and development institutions. “ECO Science Foundation is working in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for promotion of science and technology based economic development in these countries,” said Soomro.

“Generating new knowledge and turning it into innovative solutions is crucial to maintain and enhance the competitiveness in today’s science and technology based world.”

Southern Zone Agriculture Research Center Director General Dr Attaullah Khan said that his department closely coordinated with the students of Karachi University, Shah Abdul Latif University - Khairpur and Sindh Agriculture University - Tando Jam.

NNRC Director Dr Saboohi Raza, while shedding light on the aim and objectives of the event, expressed optimism that it would act as a platform to enable scientists to share knowledge and learn from each other. She mentioned that NNRC had published over 1,000 research papers in leading national and international journals.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2020.

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