Agricultural research should be stressed on climate change and application of information technology in agriculture, as it has proven beneficial in many countries around the world.
This was stated by Dr Amir Muhammad renowned agriculture scientist while addressing the inaugural ceremony of "Natural Science Linkages Programme Funded Projects (NSLP)" organised by Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) here on Wednesday.
"Information technology is the rapid way of transmitting information and will help farmers a lot," Amir said, adding that in the wake of flood devastations, the only hope for the future survivor is agriculture. Dr Amir Muhammad further said that such programme of agricultural research in the target areas would help boost the country's economy. Agriculture will help stabilise the country's economy, as a whole, he added.
While giving detail of the project, Chairman PSF Dr Manzoor Hussain Soomro said that NSLP is an endowment fund of Rs 500 million created from the sale proceeds of Soyabean imported from US under PL-480. The profit earned on the endowment fund is being utilised for funding of projects in agriculture and related sciences for the benefit of the farmers.
He said that project proposals are evaluated jointly by Pakistani and US experts. The US evaluation is handled by the well-known developmental agriculturist Dr James Stevenson. After evaluation by the subject experts, the projects are placed before the Technical Committee on NSLP for final decision.
Under the NSLP, 22 projects on prioritised areas, jointly evaluated by two Pakistani scientists and one US scientist have been funded so far. The projects are at different stages of their completion, he added. Dr Manzoor further said that project is important to enhance further co-operation among scientists from Pakistan and the USA in areas of significant mutual interest and benefit relating to natural sciences as applicable to agriculture.
He further said that this programme would enhance opportunities to collaborate in solving problems of common interest relating to natural sciences and to utilise special research and development facilities or opportunities available and would identify the researchable areas in natural sciences especially, agricultural sciences aim at increasing farmers profitability.