I take this opportunity to congratulate the scientists of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebrations.
It is a matter of great pride for the nation to learn the achievements of PARC in the development and dissemination of agricultural research technologies in collaboration with the provincial agriculture research system. Generation and dissemination of agriculture technologies, and training & development of high level scientific manpower undertaken by PARC in the last twenty-five years have greatly contributed to our agricultural outputs and socio economic uplift of poor farmers thus reducing poverty.
In its role as a policy advisor to the Government of Pakistan, the PARC has been instrumental in providing science-based solutions to produce more food and fibre for ever growing population of Pakistan, ensure food security and protect the environment. The Government is aware of the fact that science-based technological change in agriculture has been instrumental in generating high productivity and rates of return on investment with substantial impact on poverty reduction.
Since in Pakistan, the majority of the people live in rural areas and derive most of there income from crops and livestock, agriculture production and value/supply chain are most effective in generating employment and reducing poverty. To boost investment in the agricultural sector, the government has allocated substantial resources for agriculture research development in the Public Sector Development Program.
The Medium Term Development Framework (2005-2010) envisages a broad based holistic approach to agricultural growth through science-based potentially efficient and equitable solutions focusing on improved productivity and profitability; diversification into high-value agriculture, especially by small farmers, demand based production, livestock development, and promotion of agribusiness.
The above approach to agricultural growth can only succeed if the solutions are innovative enough to meet the challenges. Thus while lauding the services rendered by the agricultural scientists at large and PARC in particular, I call upon and urge our agricultural scientists to develop and disseminate technologies which help attain the envisaged 4 to 5% target of annual agricultural growth on a sustainable basis.
To realise the full potential, the technologies must effectively each the poor farmers. Furthermore, small and medium farmers should receive priority in public funded research and extension programs. Also research should target on women as they are more involved in agriculture in the rural scene. Research institutions should encourage public-private partnership including farmer associations to generate innovations with focus on rural development and poverty alleviation.
Once again, I congratulate PARC management, scientists and staff for their accomplishments over the past 25 years and readiness to meet the challenges of 21st Century.