Import of vegetables and seed is a major challenge and there is dire need to improve the predominance, efficiency and functioning of agricultural research institutes not only to meet the local demand but also to enable the country to export agricultural commodities to other countries.
This was stated by Punjab Secretary Agriculture Fayyaz Bashir while addressing a meeting of Agricultural Research Institutes Directors, held at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad.
Highlighting the important role of agricultural research institutes, the Agriculture Secretary stated that 22 agricultural research institutes in Punjab could play pivotal and leading role for the uplift of agriculture sector in the country.
To meet present day challenges, he stressed the need of adopting innovative and dynamic approach to increase the growth rate of agriculture in the country, adding that planning was important to fix the targets and should be initiated from the research institutes.
The Agriculture Secretary said demand driven research was the need of hour and the interaction and encouragement of private sector for agricultural growth could pave the way for overall agricultural development in the country and to achieve this end, initiative should start from research scientists. He assured the scientists about provision of necessary funds if beneficial projects were planned which could contribute to import substitution.
AARI Faisalabad Director General Agriculture (Research) Dr Muhammad Afzal and prominent agricultural scientists among others attended the meeting. Dr Muhammad Afzal briefed about the performance and achievements of the AARI and pointed out that institute had developed high yielding crop varieties, which could revolutionise agriculture in the country. He emphasised the need of creating awareness among common farmers about the latest agricultural research to achieve the desired targets.
Directors of AARI Research Institutes, Faisalabad, briefed the Agriculture Secretary about future research priorities and seed production programmes of their respective institutes. The Agriculture Secretary directed that more emphasis should be place the production of hybrid seeds for increasing agricultural production, and advised to increase yield of potato, tomato, onion and garlic in the country to meet local demands and achieve the goal of import substitution.
The strategies for the production of off-season vegetables and better storage practices to ensure their full season supply were also discussed in the meeting. The Agriculture Secretary exhorted the scientists to conduct result-oriented research having tangible impact, for benefit of the farming community, and consequently increasing agricultural production in the country.
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