Edible oil: Technology can help boost production

MULTAN: Pakistan spends Rs 2 billion on the import of edible oil every year. It can save this amount by boosting edible oil production in the country, said Dr Mohammad Tauseef Sultan. Dr Sultan was speaking at a two-day seminar on Recent Developments in Edible Oil Production and Processing that concluded at Bahauddin Zakariya University on Monday. The seminar was organised jointly by the BZU’s Food Science Department and the Higher Education Commission. Dr Sultan said there was a need to increase cultivation of sunflower, canola and soybean in the country. He said this could be achieved by investing in research and adopting latest technology. Dr Shakeel later discussed problems faced by farmers in cultivation of soybean, sunflower and canola. Dr Nazim briefed the participants on the latest techniques that could be used in the country to maximise output of these plants. Representatives of private ghee companies and a large number of students from the Food Science Department attended the seminar.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2012.