Staff Reporter
Punjab Agriculture Secretary Dr Asad Rehman Gillani said that the investment in agricultural research must be increased to avert agricultural crisis whereas tangible research works are being carried out in the country that must be translated into goods and services. He addressed the Dean and Directors meeting at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in which UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan also spoke.
Asad Rehman Gillani said that climate changes, post-harvest losses and a lack of mechanization were creating hurdles to get benefit from our potential. He said that the government was taking all possible measures to enhance the productivity and strengthen the agriculture sector which is a backbone of our economy. He also lauded the efforts of the UAF for the combating the agricultural issues and giving out-of-the-box solutions.
He added amid the different challenges including Covid and locust attacks, the country GDP size has squeezed from $330 billion to $280 billion. He said that government had set a production target of 27.03 million tons in 2020. Whereas overall, wheat production stood at 25.50 million tons due to changing climate and unexpended rains. He said that the country continued facing a massive decline in cotton production for some years. At present, our cotton bales production ranges around 6 million bales that was 13 million bales previously.
He urged the agricultural experts to develop viable solutions to problems of agricultural sector to increase productivity, value addition, mechanization, post-harvest and others. He said that the affordable technologies must be developed to redress the grievance of the farming community. Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that around half of our population was in the grip of malnutrition. We have to promote a blend of wheat with other cereals including maize, etc that will help improve the nutrition issues at the national level. He said that the UAF has developed vision 2030 to meet the demands and challenges of the era.
