The world has witnessed gigantic advancement in the field of molecular genetics, and recombinant DNA has opened vast opportunities in agriculture, medicine, industry and environment protection. Advanced countries are harnessing the benefits of the technology.
The rapid adoption of transgenic, or GM, crops in China and India attests to its profitability for most farmers. This was sated by Dr Arif Ali Zaidi, Vice Chancellor, GC University, Faisalabad, while addressing the inaugural session of the 4th national training course on the integration of biotechnological tools with the conventional system of plant genetic improvement, organised by Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB) University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF).
Expressing concerns over the innovation of new plant breed, he said that it takes longer time to breed out undesired traits because each unwanted trait requires a whole growing season. He said that undesirable genes can be transferred along with desirable genes, or while one desirable gene is gained another is lost, because the genes of both parents are mixed together and re-assorted more or less randomly in the offspring.
CABB Director and Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Dr Iftikhar Ahmad in his keynote address said that first green revolution was based on the introduction of intensive production techniques that included new crop varieties and fertilisers but today this revolution is losing steam.
He emphasised that the next agricultural revolution must link high production rates with ecological viability and, for this reason, it must be conceived of a doubly green. He suggested many possibilities for releasing the scientific revolutions in biology-molecular genetic and agriculture research.
Dr Mohinder Singh Garewal, Member Agri Prices Commission, India, stressed the need for revamping small farmers advisory committees so that to meet the emerging challenges in the field of agriculture. Referring to the Indian Punjab, he proposed collaboration in integrated publications of Indo-Pak farmers and scientists in order to achieve maximum yield potential.
Muhammad Idrees Khokhar and Bilal Israil also spoke in inaugural session. The training course will continue till April 26 and experts from various agricultural research institutions from all over the country are participating and exchanging their experiences regarding the issue.
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