The Caretaker Federal Minister Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik said that the Present Government’s highest priority is development of agriculture, recognizing its pivotal role in bolstering the national economy and ensuring food and nutritional security.
He stated this at the inaugural session of three days 20th International Soil Science Congress at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Tuesday, under the theme “Soil Health: A Key to Food Security ‘’.
The Federal Minister further said that Rs 8.85 billion has been made in the PSDP 2023-24 for 21 research & development projects in the agriculture and livestock sectors to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The Federal Minister said that the economy of a country is heavily dependent on agriculture and the health of soil fertility is decreasing. A healthy soil acts as a dynamic living system that delivers multiple ecosystem services and is closely associated with sustainable agriculture, he added.
He said that the government is taking all possible steps to uplift the agriculture sector. He urged the researchers and soil scientists to come up with viable solutions to meet the future challenges in order to ensure food security.
At the inaugural session Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr. Shabir A. Shahid, Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research, Kuwait, Prof. Dr. Zahir A. Zahir, President, Soil Science Society of Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Khalid Saifullah Khan, Director, Institute of Soil & Environmental Sciences, Prof. Dr. Azeem Khalid, Chairman, Department of Environmental Sciences / General Secretary, Soil Science Society of Pakistan was also present. Faculty members of PMAS-AAUR and a large number of scientists including federal & provincial policy makers, education, agri. Extension & industry from Pakistan and abroad are attending this congress.
PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem said that Pakistan is facing numerous challenges, from climate change-induced variability in weather patterns to the pressures of a growing population. In the face of these challenges, the health of our soils emerges as a cornerstone in our quest for food security.
He informed the participants that PMAS-AAUR has undertaken groundbreaking projects aimed at enhancing soil fertility, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and augmenting crop productivity. He said that University is playing a pivotal role in capacity building and knowledge dissemination among farmers and agricultural stakeholders. Through training programs, workshops, and extension services, the university has empowered local communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to adopt sustainable farming practices, improve soil management techniques, and enhance their resilience to climate change-induced challenges, he added
He hoped that this conference would fulfill its objectives and assist the government in formulating strategies on critical issues such as soil health and food security. He urged the participants to glean insights from the expertise of our esteemed international and national experts and translate this knowledge into tangible action on the ground.
