Agri-radio: ‘Radio can bridge gaps between farmers, scientists’

University of Agriculture to launch its own FM Radio channel.

FAISALABAD:

University of Agriculture (UAF) will launch an FM radio station to provide guidelines to farmers to enhance crop yields.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that if the gap between farmers and agricultural scientists is bridged, the GDP would grow in double digits.

He said that farmers who cultivate crops should be provided scientific knowledge on how to deal with new challenges such as the decrease in water resources and changes in global climate.

“The perception that UAF must only teach students agriculture is wrong. We hope to groom farmers with new technologies to reap benefits from untapped natural resources,” he said.

He said, “Merely producing the ‘babus’ of agriculture would be a waste of human and natural resources.”

He said that the new generation had to be trained to adopt new techniques; including the preservation of animals such as buffalos, cows, goats, horses and camel breeds.

New techniques in embryo technology can improve animal breeds, he said.

“Women in rural areas must also be empowered,” he said.

He said that agricultural knowledge covers all natural systems; including water, mountains, deserts, animals, forests, rivers, animals, plants and insects.

“We need a skilled workforce to harvest the fruits of nature,” he said.

He said that communication can help spread agricultural science.

“We are confident that FM Radio will help the transfer of knowledge to farmers, students and policy makers,” he said.

He said that radio will provide a platform to students to polish their skills in agricultural journalism to ensure food security.

He said that the radio channel had been given a PEMRA mandate to educate and entertain people in Faisalabad and its outskirts.

He said that UAF was working to provide expert opinion to people through call centres in Punjab’s 36 districts on the balanced use of fertilisers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2012.