Agriculture scientists urged to develop hybrid, bio-technological new varieties

The goal of self-sufficiency and food security can not be achieved without introducing high yielding varieties of agricultural products. It is the moral duty of breeders and agricultural scientists to develop hybrid and bio-technological new verities in order to obtain maximum foreign exchange.
This was stated by Vice Chancellor Professor Iqrar Ahmad Khan while addressing the 33rd meeting of university senate here on Saturday. He urged the scientists to initiate animal genome mechanism for the development of various milking animal's breeds. Dr Iqrar stressed the need for expansion of infrastructure of the university so that community development activities can be flourished. He hoped that by introducing 100 major courses and after completion of mega development project, UAF would be placed at No one university of the country.
Dr Iqrar expressed his concerns over declining trend of agricultural system and said that India has enhanced its cotton production from 10 million bales to 30 million bales within a few years but we were lagging behind with 12 million bales to 10 million bales which, off course, is challenge for agricultural scientists. He proposed that an agricultural council should be established like other organisation, ie Pakistan Engineering Council, and Pakistan Medical Council at national level so that an agricultural scientist could get due recognition.
Highlighting the mega project, Dr Iqrar told that there would be a student service centre at campus to cater more than 500 students at a time at cafeteria. He stressed the need for bridging the gap between agricultural scientists and other stakeholders. He revealed that university would introduce a new cotton verity having great yield potential and resistance against various dangerous pests.
Earlier, while presenting the university budget for the year 2007-08 treasurer Abdul Ghafoor Khan said that the total budget estimate for non-development and development was Rs 1370.692 million. He said that HEC and ministry of Science and Technology will provide 466.155 million for development.
He said that by introducing financial and budgetary reforms, university has reduced the budget deficit and increased its income by utilising own resources. Two members of the university senate Professor Dr Abdul Salam of PBG department and Professor Munir Ahmad Sheikh of Chemistry department were elected unopposed for university syndicate for the period of three years. Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain Registrar acted as secretary senate.