Pakistan can export vegetables and earn precious foreign exchange by increasing the production and improving quality, said Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) Director Dr Abid Mahmood. He was speaking at a meeting of the agricultural scientists convened for annual planning for research activities regarding vegetable production. He said that AARI is working on developing variety of a melon having more sweetness and less seeds.
He stressed the need for developing such new varieties which have more per acre yield to increase the income of the growers and per capita usage. Director AARI (Vegetables) Dr Shahid Niaz threw light on researching being done by his department and said they are working to develop hybrid seeds of vegetables giving more per acre yield.
Dr Makhdoom Hussein speaking on this occasion said that agricultural scientists should know the problems faced by the vegetable growers and while picking up annual research programmes should priorities it according to the needs of the farmers. Agricultural scientists on this occasion discussed the impediments in the way of increasing vegetable production and finalised priorities for research in the coming year, said a spokesman of the Punjab Agriculture Department on Tuesday.