Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan has said the UAF is working on 151 research projects worth Rs 640 million. Dr Khan further said that there was need to invest more in the field of research, as it was prerequisite to pay attention to research in order to overcome agricultural challenges.
He was addressing a conference organised by the office of research, innovation and commercialisation at new senate Hall UAF, here on Saturday. He said that funding plays a vital role in research and contributes in the way of development. Dr Mubarrak Ali, Chief Executive, Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) said the board had approved 41 projects and work on 10 projects to be started shortly. The board is also giving travel grant to researchers who go abroad for research, he said, adding that 90 travel grants had been given in the last two years.
He said Rs 200 million was given to the university last year due to its tangible research proposals and hoped that the grant will increase in future. He urged the scientists to make full efforts as they made last year. An amount of Rs 400 million was lapsed due to lack of research proposals. Rafique-ur-Rehman, member co-ordination, PARB said that the board was set up as an autonomous body to foster an integrated approach for research planning and efficient allocation of research resources so that the agriculture innovation system of the province could create appropriate solutions to the issues in food and fiber chain.
Meanwhile, Business Incubation Centre, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Agrow Private Limited on Friday inked an accord to transfer the technology of everlasting roses to farmers to produce alcohol free perfume. The accord was signed by UAF Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Iqrar Khan and Agrow Sales Head, A. Tahir Khan.
The initiative is a value-addition project and would help farmers grow non-traditional crop. Farmers earn rupees 0.2 million per acre from the pearls but with the production of perfume from the roses, they can get Rs 1.2 million per acre. UAF has developed specie of rose that can be flowered throughout the year with the production of around 700 roses per plant. The new specie is developed after the research of eight years. Agrow Private Limited is running six Rural Welfare Development Centres to felicitate small farmers in Kasur, Pakpattan, Gujrawala, Sheikhupura and other areas.