The minister emphasised the importance of research and innovation in achieving sustainable agricultural development and the goal of edible oil self-sufficiency.
The National Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad has begun a three-day National Dialogue on Agricultural Research.
The Honorable Minister of National Food Security and Research, speaking at the inaugural session, emphasised the government’s commitment to promoting the agricultural sector and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
The minister emphasised the importance of research and innovation in achieving sustainable agricultural development and the goal of edible oil self-sufficiency. The minister directed the Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to identify governance and financial barriers to agricultural research.
The Dialogue, organised by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, will bring together eminent agricultural scientists and policymakers from across the country as well as international organisations to define future directions for agricultural research. Under the theme “Harnessing Agriculture Potential to Boost Pakistan’s Economy,” the event will investigate challenges, recent trends, and novel technological innovations in the field.
National and international agricultural stakeholders attended the inaugural session. The Dialogue is intended to provide a forum for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss and deliberate on the most recent developments and innovations in agricultural research, as well as to plan for future research.
Stakeholders will work to identify strategies and solutions to overcome agricultural sector challenges and pave the way for sustainable development.
Crop improvement, livestock and fisheries, natural resource management, food security, and rural development will all be discussed at the National Dialogue on Agricultural Research. The event will include interactive sessions, panel discussions, and presentations by renowned agricultural experts and scientists.
The Secretary of National Food Security and Research emphasised the importance of improving governance by establishing a well-coordinated system among various institutions and rationalising existing resources to improve the efficiency of the research system.
The distinguished guests were welcomed by the Chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). He emphasised the importance of research in dealing with the country’s food security challenge.
He shared that PARC led coordinated efforts of the National Agricultural Research System, such as germplasm sharing, variety development and release – over 700 varieties – and the Agricultural Linkages Program – across NARS.
He also emphasised the importance of autonomy for the National Agricultural Research System in order to improve collaboration with international partners in technology, joint projects, exchange programmes, and capacity building.
Dr. Kausar Abdulla Malik, former Chairman of PARC, attended the event and stated that Pakistan has highly qualified human resource power in agricultural research in all cutting-edge technologies. He pleaded for financial assistance in order to maximise the capabilities of available qualified human resources.
He emphasised the significance of endowment funds in the execution of agricultural research. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, emphasised the importance of PARC in agricultural research coordination. In this regard, he acknowledged that the three-day dialogue will help to strengthen the coordination strategy.
The National Dialogue on Agricultural Research is an important initiative that brings together all agricultural stakeholders to collaborate, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions for long-term agricultural development. The event is expected to make a significant contribution to harnessing agriculture’s potential to boost Pakistan’s economy.