Increasing export of organic honey-bee products discussed

LAHORE: Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood said that Pakistan is full of natural resources which may prove better to improve country's economy.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of 17th national hands-on training workshop on ‘Organic Beekeeping Practices’ organised by Punjab University Institute of Zoology here on Monday. University of Baltistan VC Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan, Director Institute of Zoology Prof Dr Nabila Roohi, Director ORIC Prof Dr Shakil Ahmad, Incharge Honey Bee Research Garden Dr Abdul Majid Khan, honeybee farm manager, researchers, faculty members and students were present.

In his address, Dr Khalid Mahmood stressed the need to enhance the relations between PU and beekeepers to increase exports related to honey-bee products. Dr Naeem Khan said that every department of Punjab University was making progress by leaps and bounds. He said that the University of Baltistan wanted to work with PU in the field of beekeeping. Dr Nabila Roohi said that the content of the workshop would be made an integral part of the future’s curriculum for BS and MS (Hons) programmes. She said that it would be an initiative to develop the skills in students towards the future entrepreneurship. Dr Shakil Ahmad emphasised the development of the Honey Bee Research Centre in the varsity having all the required research facilities. To fulfill this global demand, the training will focus on the production of organic honey-bee products along with value addition, so that future entrepreneurship and export of organic honey-bee products may be enhanced in Pakistan, he added. The workshop will continue till November 14, 2023.

Sustainable agriculture development

Experts from Foundation for Agriculture Rurality in the World (FARM) and UVAS discussed sustainable agriculture development at a meeting held at UVAS City Campus here on Monday.

The meeting was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nasim Ahmed while delegation members comprising Cooperation and Cultural Attache Embassy of France in Pakistan Mr Dylan Gelard and Scientific Director Farm Foundation Matthieu Brun, Project Officer (FAO) Rana Muhammad Wajid and UVAS senior faculty members and officers attended the meeting. The FARM delegation is visiting Pakistan in collaboration with the French Embassy Pakistan and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

They discussed agriculture and food challenges in Pakistan to identify potential collaboration areas and food agriculture policies, management of natural resources, dairy products marketing, food security, production, trade and food safety, etc. They also discussed investment and collaborative opportunities for research in the agriculture sector and food security in Pakistan. Prof Dr Nasim Ahmed told the delegation that UVAS provided veterinary services as well as community welfare services in different provinces (South Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan) of Pakistan during flood 2022. He mentioned UVAS also distributed pregnant dairy animals, including cattle along with sheep and goats among flood-affected families under UVAS flood relief campaign especially to uplift the economic status and potential of flood affected families. Director Institute of Continue Education & Extension Dr Hassan Mahmood Warraich said that social interaction, trust building, value chain, latest farm practices and sustainability was the key source to enhance livestock farming community profitability and production.