UAF: Plans satellite campuses

The endeavour would ensure food security, says UAF vice chancellor.

FAISALABAD:

“The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) has decided to establish satellite campuses in the Punjab,” UAF Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan said on Monday.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of a five-day workshop titled Strengthening Extension Skills of Young Professions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, organised by the UAF and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Khan said the campuses would impart quality education. The education, he said, would enhance agricultural productivity and ensure food security in the country.

“Pakistan is blessed with four seasons and has one of the best cropping systems… despite that per acre production is low because of traditional farming techniques,” he said. He said modern techniques must be adopted.

“The Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, has 30 sub-campuses…the University of California has 10 sub-campuses…these institutions are spreading awareness among farmers.”

Khan said the Pakistani Punjab was three times the Indian Punjab. “Per acre wheat production in Indian Punjab is 46kg… Here it is only 30kg per acre,” he said.

He said quality seeds and better machinery were important for increased productivity.

Dr Jim Hill from the University of California-Davis said agriculture was the backbone of the economies of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said the farmers needed to be informed about new agricultural practices.

“The world population will reach nine billion by 2050… efforts must be made to ensure food security,” he said.

He said the USDA had been organising workshops to help transfer knowledge into goods and services. Dr Jerry Peters from Purdue University said the workshop was an initiative that could bring positive changes in agriculture.

Dr Louise Ferguson of the University of California-Davis said they were also working with women farmers.

Dr Grant Dewell from Iowa State University, Dr Chuck Schuster from the University of Maryland and Dr Chris Pannkuk from Washington State University also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2013.