Press Release: India and Pakistani Punjab agricultural scientists emphasized the need to jointly address agricultural sector challenges especially climate changes and water scarcity issues.
It was discussed at the second day of 59th alumni meeting of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad held at auditorium, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) in which Indian Punjab State Farmers Commission, Mohali, Chairman DrGhurcharan Singh Kalkat, Director General Research Dr. Abid Mehmood, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana (PAU), India, Vice Chancellor Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, DG Extension Dr. Anjum Ali Buttar, DG Field Dr. Muhammad Bashir, Botanist Muhammad Rafique Dogar and other notables also addressed.
Dr. Ghurcharan Singh Kalkat said the joint research work would open up new avenue of progress and to learn from each other experiences. He stressed upon the need to make rational usage of God-given gifts including land, water and air. He said that Indian government was providing subsidized energy, water and inputs. Because of this, the water and energy are being misused by farming community. He was of the views that work should be done to minimize the cost of production of inputs. He reiterated that provision of the latest agricultural machineries to the farming community on rent would also increase the productivity.
UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan while terming agriculture a way out to alleviate poverty, said that all major sectors including textile, food, milk, poultry in Pakistan are directly or indirectly linked to the agricultural sector. He also said the both countries were facing the similar challenges including poverty, low productivity and climate changes. He said that improper sowing, misuse of resources and imbalance usage of inputs are the hurdles to obtain the potential . We have to take the tangible steps to provide a secured future for the coming generation.
Director General Research Dr. Abid Mahmood said the land fertility has become a question mark for the food security as our land is facing 95 percent deficiency of nitrogen, and 90 percent of potassium. He said that if the farmers ensure the balanced use of fertilizer, it would additional cost Rs 199 billion against the profit of Rs 414 billion. He said that 50 percent of the farming community sow the wheat later than the recommended date which is a reason of not tapping the potential from the land He said that Ayub Research had produced many varieties of the all crops which has not only increase the productivity but also ensure the food security in the country.
Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon urged the Pakistan and Indian Punjab agricultural scientists for joint efforts to address different issues and learn about strengthened areas of the agriculture from each others. He stressed the need to establish Agricultural Demonstration Institute at the border where scientists of the both country will demonstrate their new varieties. He said that there are areas in which one country is performing better than other and vice versa. Later on, a business meeting held at New Syndicate Hall of the UAF in which above mentioned speakers and Deans of the various faculty spoke on the issues related to mutual concerns.