Pakistan's first food, agriculture museum planned at UAF

Pakistan's first Food and Agriculture Museum is being established at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) to preserve the country's agricultural heritage and showcase the evolution of farming from traditional practices to modern technologies.

The project was discussed during the third Joint Technical Meeting chaired by Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairperson Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zulfiqar Ali welcomed participants and highlighted the significance of the initiative.

Addressing the meeting, Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said reconnecting people with their cultural and agricultural heritage had become increasingly important as rapid modernisation continues to erode historical memory. He described museums as centres of learning, innovation and public awareness that preserve not only artefacts but also the scientific, cultural and social evolution of farming communities.

He recalled that the Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute in Lyallpur—now UAF—was established on the recommendations of the colonial Famine Commission to modernise agriculture in the subcontinent.

He said the museum project is expected to receive phased funding of Rs300 million through the Punjab Higher Education Commission under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the establishment of its galleries.

Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali said preserving agricultural heritage was essential to passing farming knowledge on to future generations.

He said the museum would be the first of its kind in Pakistan, spanning an indoor display area of 55,000 square feet.

He said visitors would be able to explore galleries tracing the country's agricultural journey, from indigenous seed varieties and traditional wooden ploughs to greenhouse models, genomic breeding and digital precision farming technologies.