FAISALABAD:The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan has urged the agricultural scientists to expedite their efforts to overcome the agricultural challenges and address the problems of the farming community.
Addressing a meeting at New Senate Hall, he said that it was a matter of grave concern that the country was importing edibles worth 10 billion dollars. He urged the agricultural scientists to come up with viable solutions to the agriculture issues. He said that in November, the UAF contingent of more than 20,000 young students visited farmers’ fields in five divisions of the province meant to disseminate new wheat technologies to increase per acre production. The students moved with Agriculture Extension Department officials and staff during the Punjab Government wheat campaign. He said that in March, the UAF arranged one of the world largest three-day national equestrian show set up in which 2000 stallions across the country participated. He said that UAF launched a massive home gardening project in Lahore, Islamabad, Vehari, and other areas.
He said that a healthy lifestyle and awareness of better nutrition among the people was need of the hour. He said that with the help of Korea, under the Ehsaas Program, Pak Korea Nutrition Center had been established at the UAF to fight with challenge of malnutrition. He said that UAF was making all-out efforts for the farming community, agriculture and rural development with help of trained manpower, research and outreach. He added that National Incubation Center was being established in order to commercialize the technology developed by students and agricultural experts at the national level and promote entrepreneurship.
He said that the Bank of Punjab will cooperate with the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) to convert UAF Old Campus, established in 1906, into a state-of-the-art agriculture museum. He said that the university had mapped out a comprehensive plan to preserve its century old heritage and glory to present it before the people. He said that the university had played a pivotal role in producing skilled agriculture manpower and tangible research work. In the museum, the agro-cultural development would be preserved for the next generation, he added.