A two-day seminar organized by the Department of Farm Machinery and Precision Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology ended, recently, at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi.
The topics of the seminar were Tractor mechanics, Principles of efficient tractor operation and environmental impact of diesel exhaust, its remedies, and EPA standards.
Faculty members of different institutes/faculties, final year students of engineering, and field engineers of agricultural engineering departments of Rawalpindi and Peshawar attended the seminar. The guest speaker was Engr. Mansoor Rizvi, Country Head of Case New Holland Agriculture.
Engr. Mansoor explained to the participants about the optimum use of agriculture tractors that can bring 21% savings in diesel consumption.
He explained that proper rear tire inflation, selection of proper gear and engine rpm, proper adjustment of implement, correct use of tractor hydraulics, and maintenance of a cooling system of the tractor requires no financial input but the savings in terms of diesel and environment is huge.
He said that 21% saving in diesel means saving of 1,8,250 Rs /tractor/year. He said that there are around 500,000 operational tractors in Pakistan, so the total financial implications of this venture could bring a saving of Rs 90 billion rupees which is a huge burden on the exchequer of the country.
In the training, he explained the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards incorporated in off-highway diesel engines to neutralize the bad effects of diesel exhaust pollutants such as Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide causing smog in cities, and particulate matter.
Engr. Prof. Dr. Jehanzeb Masood Cheema, Dean Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology in his remarks emphasized that Pakistani agriculture is facing environmental pollution, adverse effects of climate change, water shortages and other serious problems, including growing population and poor economic potential of farmers.
The Vice-Chancellor of PMAS- PMAS-AAUR Engr. Prof. Dr. Qamar uz Zaman, in his address, puts great emphasis on the industry-academia linkage to address the challenges being faced by our farmers. He has shed light on the project process pertaining to precision agriculture.
He stated that the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Department of Farm Machinery and Precision Engineering is working to indigenize gadgets used under the “internet of things” and Geographic Information Systems to develop an economical solution to provide early weather warnings and crop-related instructions to the farmers.
He said that the focus of the Agricultural Engineering faculty is to ensure food security by developing simple and economical solutions for the farming community.
The Vice-Chancellor in further eulogized the hard work of the organizers of the seminar and reiterated his commitment to leave no stone unturned to bring this University at par with the standards of world-leading International universities by providing a congenial environment for the researchers to find the best solutions for the agriculture in the country which is hard-pressed due to small landholdings and growing population.
Engr, Dr. Tahir Iqbal, Chairman Department of Farm Machinery and Precision Engineering thanked the participants and speaker. The seminar was ended with the award of certificates to the participants.
