Food security stressed at local contest

Heat, disease-resistant varieties of crops must for agri development.

FAISALABAD: University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chacellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan in the Annual Poster Contest of Plant Pathology Department, UAF, informed the participants that disease and heat resistant varieties of various crops are prerequisite to ensure food security.

Stressing on agricultural sector being directly linked with poverty alleviation, he said that control of plant diseases is crucial to reliable production amid changing climate to effectively deal with different infestations.

He urged scientists to play their role to safeguard the availability of food when population is increasing rapidly. The threat of Cotton Leaf Curl Virus, dieback of shesham, greening disease of citrus and others are challenges for plant pathologists. He also called for strengthening the academia-industry linkages to solve the problems of the industry and asked the teaching community to polish their in-build abilities of students.

“The students must hone their skills so that they can shoulder the responsibilities in the development of the country. Youth are an engine for the uplift of the economy and the future builders. Skilled manpower is the guarantee for a bright future.”

He also lauded steps taken by Plant Pathology Department in the area of research and academia.

Faculty of Agriculture Dean Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad said that scientists should come up with solid solutions. Poster competition provides an opportunity to students to exhibit their skills. He said posters have attained more importance than presentations in developed nations.

Department Chairman Prof Dr Shahbaz Talib Sahi said his department was running research projects worth Rs 20 million whereas more research projects worth Rs30 millions are in the pipeline.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2014.

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