HYDERABAD:The Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam Dr. Fateh Marri has said that numerous resources were available in Balochistan for agricultural development and there is the need of taking advantage of utilizing available facilities. The important crops and orchards particularly organic cotton are increasing in Blaochistan, he said while addressing the daylong seminar on “Contours of economic growth and sustainable development in Balochistan” held here on Friday.
Dr. Fateh Marri said that besides exploration of mineral resources in Balochistan, the agriculturists, experts and institutions of the province have needed to focus on research on agriculture development. In this regard, he emphasized the need of formation of a comprehensive planning to meet the challenges of food security, effective utilization of agricultural waste and promotion of agriculture and industrial services, and manufacturing.
Dr. Abdul Salam Lodhi, an economist of the country and Professor of Economics at Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences (BUITMS) Quetta said that Balochistan was the largest province of the country, covering 44 percent
of the total land area, west rangeland with 75 percent of the coastline. The province is rich in mineral and hydrocarbon reserves, but more attention needs to be paid to the economic development of Balochistan in order to utilize the potential resources for the economic development of the province, he added.
He said the province needs significant investment, business management and human resource development in productive sectors such as minerals, fisheries, livestock and agriculture so that issues of unemployment, poverty and food security could be tackled through sustainable development.
Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Social Sciences of Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam Prof. Dr. Aijaz Ali Khonharo said there is scope for more new projects on agricultural research in Balochistan. The agriculture sector can play important role in economic development of the country, he added.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar observed that joint projects in higher education
and research institutes of Balochistan and Sindh can support the agricultural develop ent of the country.
Among others, Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba Khushk, Dr. Barkatullah Qureshi, Dr. Habib Magsi also attended the seminar with large number of teachers and students.