Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Sikandar Hayat Bosan has said that the agricultural research is a major driving force behind achieving high agricultural production targets.
The Minister expressed these views in his opening remarks at the Third ALP International Workshop, organised by the Agricultural Linkages Programme of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) here on Wednesday.
He said less resources for agricultural research, small number of scientists, low number of support staff per scientist; low ratio of PhDs, as well as insufficient operating funds for research were some of the factors responsible for slow performance of the national agricultural research system. "Ideally, the investment in agricultural research should not be less than 1.5 percent of the GDP but we are spending less than one percent over it."
The minister further said that with the induction of Agricultural Linkages Programme (ALP), the agricultural research scientists had been provided with sufficient operational funding.
The government has entrusted the responsibility of ALP implementation to PARC for setting up "Agricultural Research Endowment Fund (AREF)" from the sale proceeds of wheat equivalent to Rs 1.3 billion and the income from this fund is being used for the promotion and support of ALP research activities in line with Pakistan's long-term research and development goals for the growth and uplift of agriculture sector.
The ALP also encourages and supports the exchange of agriculture scientists/research managers for increasing linkages of Pakistan's agricultural research system with the research systems of the US and other developed and developing countries, the minister said.
In his welcoming remarks, PARC Chairman Dr ME Tusneem said that AREF was approved in March 2000 and the first batch of projects started implementation from March 2001. "As of-date 257 research projects based on competitive grant system have been approved for Rs766 million," he said and informed that of these, 85 have been completed.
About the objectives of the workshop Dr Tusneem said that it had two themes: (1) to highlight important success stories of the completed ALP projects and (2) to seek more co-operation from the friendly countries for increased and sustainable linkages.
He maintained that the outcome of the workshop would enable PARC to expand partnership with other research organisations and scientists of friendly countries. "This will help us achieve Pakistan's long-term research and development objectives," he said.
On the occasion, PARC chairman informed that the ALP - created under Agricultural Research Endowment Funds is unique in the region to support operational research and address the real problems of agriculture sector.
Dr Tusneem invited the diplomats and representatives from friendly countries and international development/donor agencies who were present in the workshop, to review and participate in the ALP collaborative research programme through the exchange of knowledge and scientists.
Earlier, Dr James Stevenson, Programme Leader - FAS, US Department of Agriculture and Shahida Jamil, Executive Director ALP also addressed the workshop. Three technical members of the PARC highlighted the research projects completed in their respective disciplines of plant, animal and social sciences. Later, the Agriculture Minister distributed awards among the eminent scientists in recognition of their meritorious services in research and development.
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