BZU approves Rs 3.3 million for mango research

The Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, for the first time has planned to play its role in saving the orchards of Southern Punjab for different diseases, and initiated research work with an initial amount of Rs 3.3 million.
This grant would be spent on mango research project to identify problems relating to the production and mango diseases in South Punjab, said sources.
The distinguished economist and BZU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Karamat Ali has assigned the task to the Mango Research Center, Agriculture College.
The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council has released a grant of Rs 3,326,000 for two mango research projects to solve growers' problems by providing them research infrastructure, he added.
The BZU vice-chancellor has also taken up all the issues related to South Punjab agriculture seriously, and laid special emphasis on protecting and promoting the delicious fruit of mango.
Professor Dr Karamat Ali constituted a committee comprising BZU Agriculture College Principal Professor Dr Mushtaq Salim, Professor Dr Mohammad Aslam, Professor Dr Bismillah Khan, Professor Dr Akbar Anjum, Professor Nazim Hussein Labar, Professor Ghulam Mustafa Cheema, Professor Rashida Perveen, and the mango growers association representatives including Syed Zahid Hussein Gardezi, Malik Bashir Awan, Zahid Ali Bukhari, and Multan Tehsil Saddar Nazim Malik Shukat Bossan.
Solution to mango production problems, fruiting and research on mango diseases has been included in the first project under the supervision of Professor Dr Mohammad Akbar Anjum.
Professor Dr Mushtaq Salim would monitor the second project of mango disease, diagnose and full-fledged establishment of mango research centre in the college, and Rs 1,366,000 would be spent on this project.
Earlier, the Mango Growers' Association delegation met with the BZU vice-chancellor at his office, and congratulated him on taking over the charge and urged for setting up synchronising research.
The delegation members asked the BZU vice-chancellor to set up a mango research facility in the Agriculture College to work for prevention from fatal mango maladies like sudden death, Anthracnose and others.
The growers delegation led by its president Syed Zahid Hussein Gardezi also urged the vice-chancellor that BZU agriculture faculty should work with the stakeholders, inculcate such curricula that helps promote human resource in the horticulture sector.