Researchers urged to acquire latest agriculture techniques

Minister says govt committed to providing financial assistance to scientists

ISLAMABAD:

The three-day National Dialogue on Agricultural Research concluded at the National Agricultural Research Centre here in the federal capital with a greater emphasis on acquiring the latest agriculture techniques to fully exploit the country’s potential in the sector.

At the closing ceremony of the dialogue, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain commended PARC for organising a goal-oriented dialogue that involved all stakeholders. The minister emphasised that the agriculture sector is crucial to Pakistan's economy and stressed the importance of maximising its role to ensure food and nutritional security.

He urged all the researchers to establish purely indigenous and self-reliant agricultural research which is aligned with the international standards of food and nutritional security. He added that the government is fully committed to consistently providing financial support for research and scholarships to the researchers and encouraged them to engage with the international scientists’ community in order to attain the latest knowledge and expertise. The three day event at NARC was attended by representatives from all partners’ institutions.

HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, director generals of all provincial agricultural research centres, heads of international organisations, and the private sector participated in the event.

A wide range of innovative ideas were discussed throughout the event including opportunities for joint ventures with international organisations, diversification and sustainable intensification of climate-resilient crops, etc. The participants also called for advanced strategies and techniques for high value horticulture, revolutionising the mechanised agriculture and ensuring food and nutritional security.

In addition, the development of nutritious varieties of field crops, diversification and sustainable intensification of cereal based cropping systems, a target-oriented breeding programme for fruits, vegetables, and flowers along with a variety of other important topics were also on the agenda of National Dialogue.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2023.