Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad said it was urgent to disseminate modern technology to meet the food needs of the constantly expanding population.
Vice Chancellor (VC) and Professor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) announced on Tuesday that the university was working with Washington State University to develop high-quality, climate-resistant wheat varieties that would boost production, which has been stagnating for a few years due to climate change.
He was speaking to the 32nd Senior Management Course delegation from the Peshawar-based National Institute of Management (NIM). Nafees Rahim presided over the delegation.
In order for the farming community to meet the food needs of the constantly expanding population, Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad said it was urgent to disseminate modern technology. He added that the research should be translated into products and services that would help address various agricultural challenges, saying, “In the context of climate change, we will have to introduce heat tolerant varieties.”
He claimed that the nation imported $4 billion worth of edible oil every year. Accordingly, he said, the UAF was attempting to provide skilled labour with a focus on agricultural and rural development, noting that thanks to the country’s intervention in maize, its production had increased drastically.
He claimed that several projects approved for UAF last year included the Women Facilitation Center, National Handball Academy, Pilot Project for Precision Agriculture, Pak Korea Nutrition Center, and Capacity Building Center.
He added that the UAF was also engaged in a number of research projects that were being conducted in a competitive environment and that would serve as a foundation for the scientific development of agriculture by addressing farmers’ issues.
He claimed that the Special Technology Zone Authority had also designated UAF as an agriculture park. He added that this university signed more than 165 Memorandums of Understanding with various international organizations, which would open up new possibilities for agricultural development.
Climate-resistant wheat varieties have been developed to be more tolerant to various environmental stress factors such as drought, heat, and disease, that are associated with changing climate patterns. These varieties are bred or genetically modified to have traits that help them survive and produce under adverse conditions.