Per acre sugarcane production can be increased through the use of modern trends as the country was getting only 450 maunds per acre compared to the potential of 2000 maunds. The agriculturists said this at the inaugural session of six-week Advanced Certificate Course in Sugarcane Agronomy arranged at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan presided over the session. This course is being conducted by Department of Agronomy, UAF in collaboration with the Sugarcane Research and Development Board Punjab. He urged the scientists to work on sugarcane breeding to transform the crop from water-loving to less water. He said that Integrated Pest Management (IPM), quality seed, biological control, and latest practices of sowing are imperative to increase the production.
He said that Pakistan stands among the water stressed country for which we have to develop water efficient varieties. Dean Faculty of Agriculture Dr Riaz Ahmad said that sugarcane is an important cash crop in the country and played important role in the development of socio-economic conditions. He said that the agriculture was backbone of the economy and poverty alleviation is directly linked to the sector. He said that the UAF was making all-out efforts to conduct tangible researches and transform the knowledge into goods and services. He also said that we must strive hard to increase the income of farmers for their better living.