Punjab forms agri research task force to boost growth

FAISALABAD: Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo announced Thursday the formation of an Agriculture Education and Research task force to recommend sector reforms aimed at achieving four per cent agricultural growth in future.

At a meeting attended by key agricultural experts and researchers, including UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, he urged enhanced collaboration among academia, research, and industry for food security.

He said, “The government is devising short, mid, and long-term policies to upgrade the agriculture sector. Increasing crop productivity is a major challenge, particularly due to water scarcity and climate change. Quality germplasm, climate-resilient varieties, and timely provision of certified seeds to farmers would boost production. All stakeholders must adopt a unified and actionable strategy for agricultural sustainability. The government is providing resources for this renewal, and a session with all stakeholders is a testament to this commitment. The arid agricultural university, in collaboration with other institutions, aims to enhance per-acre wheat production, with UAF and other agricultural institutions focusing on irrigated areas.”

UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Zulfiqar Ali expressed concern over the rapid decline of organic matter in the soil, terming it a serious threat to land fertility and sustainable agriculture. He called for collective efforts from all agricultural institutions to combat this alarming situation. The university will engage scientists from other institutions as adjunct professors on various research projects. For short-term agricultural reform, available varieties need to be profiled.