Staff Reporter Rawalpindi
A kissan Mela was held at PMAS AAUR Koont Farm, Tehsil Gujar Khan with the aim on changing agricultural practices by reducing expenses, making optimum use of fertilizers, starting side agri-businesses, making farming a profit-oriented venture and strengthen academia-Industry partnership.
The Mela was inaugurated by Prof. Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice-Chancellor Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi as a chief guest along with Ch. Sajid Mehmood MPA where faculty members, students and a large number of farmers were present. While Addressing the Kissan Mela, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman said that Pakistan is in dire need to take concrete steps in agriculture as the world has come a long way from us in this field while we are still adopting traditional agricultural methods.
“It is a matter of concern for us that despite being an agricultural country, we are forced to import our daily necessities from abroad,” he said.
He said that Potohar has been blessed by God with a unique kind of fertile land and with a little attention and innovation in agricultural practices; the region could become a hub for fruit production.
Speaking on the strong academia-industry linkages, he said that educational institutions should have strong ties with industry partners, so the research conducted in educational institutions would not only benefit the farmers but the consumer also.
Appreciating the successful organization of Kissan Mela, Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman said that Arid Agriculture University is the only agricultural university in Pakistan which provides priority to industry’s issues and the agricultural experts of the university are always ready to deal with the problems faced by the farmers and provide them timely guidance.
In his address Member Provincial Assembly Punjab Chaudhry Sajid Mehmood said that it is a great misfortune for us that despite being an agricultural country we are forced to import essential commodities due to which Pakistan’s economy is facing a huge amount of current account deficit.
