Pakistan Agriculture Technology Transfer Activity (PATTA) organised a one-day training workshop on "Safe use of pesticides" for the capacity building of those imparting technical know-how to the growers and other stakeholders of the farming sector. Model Farm Project along with its implementation partners, Value Chain Technical Assistant Team (VCTAT) in collaboration PATTA and the Agriculture department organized the workshop.
Fatima Benish Sahi, Additional Secretary (Task Force) inaugurated workshop while it was attended by Dr Asif Khan Horticulture Specialist, Kashif Jamshaid, Project Coordinator Establishment of Model farm project, Dr Waqar Director Agriculture Technology PATTA, Charles Bruce Williams PATTA International Expert and master trainers nominated by DGA (Ext & AR) and DGA (Pest Warning & Quality Control of Pesticides) Punjab.
Speaking on this occasion, Fatima Benish Sahi said that aim of the workshop is to build and enhance capacity for hands-on training to understand the safe use of pesticides with focus on safety, hygiene, health, handling practices and technical of agro-chemicals.
She further stated that this workshop will prove a milestone for safe use of pesticides and those who get trained from this session will spread their knowledge to farming community/ stakeholders. Kashif Jamshed, project coordinator said it will improve management practices and increased adaption of agricultural technologies by the small farmers.
The project supports the establishment of mechanization centers across the province to provide technical services to area farmers. The significance of Punjab is primal. 80% of the contribution to Pakistan's agricultural GDP comes from Punjab province.
Given that the agricultural sector employs 42.3% of the labor force means that any mechanization intervention significantly alters the contribution to GDP overall and the increase in income of farmer communities, especially in Punjab where over 60% of the land is cultivated.
During session, these more than 35 Master Trainers discussed the case for safe usage of pesticides in agriculture sector they also identified several factors to make technology effective, appropriate and affordable for farmers.
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