On the concluding session of the National Conference of Agriculture and Livestock vice-chancellors of various universities of the country expressed their opinion on problems confronting the nation and the country. Vice-chancellor Veterinary University Lahore Dr Manzoor Ahmed Qureshi pointed out that the controversy over water distribution and negative attitude for its resolution has turned Pakistan into a country where people are mentally and linguistically divided and restricted their cognitive capability to their respective areas.
He said this attitude had to be changed or else this generation would be held responsible for destruction of their future generation. He said: "Resolution of water problem is imperative to meet the challenges of ever increasing need of food and fodder and WTO regime."
Dr Asadullah Kazi, vice-chancellor, Isra University Hyderabad, pointed that Pakistan's annual water resources is around 135 million hectare water, which include 4,500-hectare feet underground water but most of the water is lost due to conveyance, spillage and depleted irrigation system.
He pleaded that to minimise these losses, besides the federal and provincial government, efforts should also be made at the local level to minimise water losses so that environment could be saved from further degradation.
Former vice-chancellor Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam Dr Rajjab Ali Memon, speaking on the occasion, laid more emphasis on poverty alleviation and said that due to water shortage, deterioration in education, research and training is increasing the poverty level with the passage of time, particularly in Sindh where majority of rural population either lives on poverty line or below the poverty line.
WORST SUFFERERS: He said: "Small growers are the worst sufferers, as they are not benefited by the government package of financial backup for them. He said the government has to streamline and simplify the financial backup procedure to extend these facilities to the growers.
He said: "The growers are also denied of the reasonable price of their products, as the agriculture market committees are virtually plagued with financial mismanagement and corruption." He said: "Poor allocation of funds for development projects is also adversely affecting the completion of socio-economic projects." He was also critical of allocating funds to nazims instead of experts for streamlining water management system.
He said lack of planning and ill-conceived policies also have negative impact on rural economy and a large number of population is living on poverty line or below the poverty line.
He said: "The growers are not getting reasonable price of their produce and the farm workers are poorly paid which lead to rural population's influx to urban areas. He emphasised the need for short-term development schemes instead of long-term planning to provide immediate relief to the people faced with the worst kind of dearness.
Bashir Ahmed Shaikh, vice-chancellor Sindh Agriculture University, has said that in the past, successive governments had neglected the agriculture sector.
He said: "Many departments need proper research for sustainable development of agriculture sector. He said with the co-operation of the government, his university has started research on agriculture and livestock. He hoped that with proper planning and research, the desired results would be achieved. He said efforts should be made to control population growth, which is detrimental to our economic growth.
Other speakers include Dr Kazi Suleman Memon, Dr A M Khan.
MODERN VILLAGES: The Sindh government is actively considering to improve the living condition of rural population by establishing modern villages in the province.
A hint in this regard was dropped by the senior member of revenue Mirza Karim Baig, while addressing a meeting of revenue officers here on Saturday.
He directed the EDO Revenue to conduct a survey of villages, particularly those having civic infrastructure, and secure residential right of the people so that modern villages could be established.
He also directed the revenue officers to computerise the record of rights and warned that any forgery in the record would not be tolerated and those found guilty would be brought to book.
He further directed the officers to adopt transparent policy regarding disposal of resumed land strictly in accordance with the Land Revenue Act and added that details of the allotment of land should be sent to him without further delay.