Pakistan Agriculture Research Centre (Parc) and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre will collaborate in the field of agriculture research and development. Parc Chairman Dr Badaruddin Soomro discussed the matter with Dr Norman Borlaug - the Noble laureate- at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, which is better known by its Spanish name Centre International de Maiz Y Trigo (CIMMYT) at Mexico. Dr Soomro is currently visiting Mexico to discuss future collaboration with CIMMYT through their liaison office recently established at National Agricultural Research Centre (Narc) Islamabad.
The CIMMYT has a global mandate for improving the productivity and sustainability of maize and wheat, particularly, in developing countries.
Dr Soomro, in a meeting with CIMMYT Deputy Director General Dr John Dodds, said it was decided that Parc and CIMMTY would formulate a pragmatic work plan to strengthen collaborative efforts in Pakistan.
Dr Borlaug said the increasing world population was a tremendous challenge for the people of developing countries, which needed to be focused on research and development in the field of agriculture to meet the food requirements. Dr Borlaug was optimistic about the future potential of Pakistan's agriculture, and stressed upon the need to improve early warning system, disease screening and institutionalisation of wheat quality breeding program.