Punjab Agriculture Secretary Javaid Iqbal Awan has stressed the need for giving top priority to the expectations and requirements of farming community while assigning priorities to agricultural research. He was addressing agricultural scientists from Aari, Niab, NIBGE, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and farmers on Thursday.
Highlighting the problems of farming community, the Punjab Agriculture Secretary stated that drought, ever-increasing prices of agricultural inputs, attack of pests on crops and scarcity of water were some of the major problems faced by the Pakistani farmers.
It was the utmost duty of agricultural scientists to develop latest agricultural technology to solve these problems so that agricultural production in the country could be increased and agriculture sector be revitalised to meet future challenges, he added.
Iqbal Awan assured agricultural scientists that the government was fully committed to solve their problems, added that efforts were being made to end contract system and recruit the scientists on regular basis to enhance their performance. On this occasion, the Agriculture Secretary accorded approval to the proposals regarding restructuring of agricultural research system.
Another plan, which envisages the supply of approved and certified seed to the growers, was also discussed. Under this plan, agricultural scientists from Aari, Faisalabad would impart training to the growers to produce seed on commercial basis.
Agriculture Research Director General Dr Muhammad Rashid, in his briefing, said that Aari had developed 365 varieties of different crops till now, but unfortunately due to non-availability of a viable system of seed production and distribution, the farmers were cultivating very few varieties. He underlined the importance of introduction of an effective seed multiplication and distribution system for the growers to enhance agricultural productivity in the country. He also talked about problems being faced by agricultural scientists, and added that 44 percent vacancies at Aari were lying vacant. The salaries and other emoluments paid to the Aari scientists were much lesser as compared to the scientists of universities and other institutions of agricultural research.
Chief Executive of Punjab Agriculture Research Board (PARB) Dr Mubarak Ali presented plan for capacity building of provincial agricultural research system, which envisaged imparting of training to agricultural scientists within the country and abroad. The plan was approved after a few amendments.
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