Workshop: Research emphasised to improve crop yield
Scientists urged to meet growing population needs.
FAISALABAD:
University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan has stated that innovative ideas, quality research work and effective communication are imperative to address the issues of the farming community and enable them to compete with international standards.
He said this while addressing the concluding session of AIP-Pakistan Grant workshop arranged by the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC), in collaboration with the University of California Davis.
“With the passage of time, agricultural land is diminishing whereas the population is increasing,” said Khan.
He urged scientists to produce demand driven researches so that the goal of food security could be fulfilled.
Khan said that the US has mapped out a comprehensive plan to double its major grains. “We have to develop the mechanism in order to meet the demand of a growing population.”
He said that the UAF competitive research grant is touching Rs2 billion and, by 2030, it could go up to Rs8 billion.
Dr Thomas Rost from the University of California Davis said an effective idea and clarity in mind for communication skills are a prerequisite to win the research project. Rost said that workshops will help participants polish their skills regarding competitive grant writing.
Dr Samuel Rodriguez from Washington States University said identification of problems, knowing about the source of funding and the effective writing was essential to win the research project.
ORIC Director Prof Dr Asif Ali hoped that the university will raise the research funding up to Rs8 billion. “Quality research will help the country face challenges.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2014.
University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan has stated that innovative ideas, quality research work and effective communication are imperative to address the issues of the farming community and enable them to compete with international standards.
He said this while addressing the concluding session of AIP-Pakistan Grant workshop arranged by the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC), in collaboration with the University of California Davis.
“With the passage of time, agricultural land is diminishing whereas the population is increasing,” said Khan.
He urged scientists to produce demand driven researches so that the goal of food security could be fulfilled.
Khan said that the US has mapped out a comprehensive plan to double its major grains. “We have to develop the mechanism in order to meet the demand of a growing population.”
He said that the UAF competitive research grant is touching Rs2 billion and, by 2030, it could go up to Rs8 billion.
Dr Thomas Rost from the University of California Davis said an effective idea and clarity in mind for communication skills are a prerequisite to win the research project. Rost said that workshops will help participants polish their skills regarding competitive grant writing.
Dr Samuel Rodriguez from Washington States University said identification of problems, knowing about the source of funding and the effective writing was essential to win the research project.
ORIC Director Prof Dr Asif Ali hoped that the university will raise the research funding up to Rs8 billion. “Quality research will help the country face challenges.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2014.