FAISALABAD: Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is actively cooperating with its partners to develop agriculture on most modern scientific lines for overcoming the issue of malnutrition and poverty, said General Manager Outreach and Capacity Building ACIAR Madam Eleanor Dean.
She was addressing a meeting at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) while leading ACIAR delegation during its visit to the varsity.
She said that ACIAR was a world leader in agricultural research and it was encouraging and supporting the Australian scientists to use their skills for the benefit of partner countries in addition to contributing their research for overcoming the agricultural challenges in Australia also.
She said that ACIAR had also launched research projects with UAF and this step would help in tackling agricultural challenges in Pakistan amicably.
The ACIAR would also offer scholarships for international students in Australia and Pakistani students should also take benefit from this opportunity, she added.
ACIAR Country Manager Munawar Kazmi said that despite the fact that Pakistan was an agricultural country, the share of agriculture in GDP was only 18%, for which joint efforts were imperative.
He said that joint efforts were made in different research projects under the auspices of the Australian Center in order to develop agriculture on scientific lines.
He said that the Australian Center was conducting collaborative research with Pakistan in the fields of agriculture, livestock and water management in addition to increase the capacity of the farmers.
Director Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization UAF Dr. Jafar Jaskani said that UAF scientists were concentrating to develop high-yield varieties of wheat, cotton, chia, soybeans, corn, mango, citrus and other fruits and vegetables in addition to resolving the problems of farming community at their doorsteps.
Dean Veterinary Sciences UAF Dr. Farzana Rizvi, Dean Animal Husbandry Dr. Qamar Bilal, Dean Agriculture Sciences Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti, Director of Institute of Agriculture Extension, Education and Rural Development Dr. Babar Shehbaz, Principal Officer Public Relations and Publication Dr. Muhammad Jalal Arif, Director Horticulture Sciences Dr. Ahmed Sattar, Dr. Muhammad Tayyab and others were also present in the meeting.