‘Kissan Mela’ held at PMAS-AAUR

Islamabad

Federal Minister, National Food Security & Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has said farmers are the backbone of the country and uplift of the agriculture sector could help strengthen the country’s economy.

He stated this while inaugurating the ‘Kissan Mela’ at Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, here on Tuesday. The ‘Mela’ was organised by PMAS-AAUR in collaboration with Lok Sanjh Foundation, featured several programmes including establishment of different stalls, youth session, tableau by students and a conference on Defending Agricultural & Cultural Diversity.

The federal minister also visited different stalls of the ‘Mela’ and inaugurated Bio Mass to Bio Energy Unit and Basketball & Long tennis Court in the university premises. On the occasion, PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Senator Najma Hameed and other dignitaries, faculty members, students and farmers were also present there.

While visiting the Bio Energy Unit the federal minister appreciated the efforts of PMAS-AAUR for establishing Bio Energy Unit by using solid waste and recommended that it should be promoted by increasing public awareness and integrating the informal sector to make the current system sustainable and financially viable. He said farmers are playing a vital role in improving economy of any country and present government has initiated several agricultural development projects in country to uplift this sector and raise farmers’ income. He assured that the present government’s Kissan Package would surely helped the small farmers and government is committed to provide them with modern technology for making improvements in agricultural produce.

PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, while addressing highlighted the main objectives of the ‘Mela’ and informed the gathering that Arid University is playing important role in improvement of country’s agriculture. He said there is dire need to promote cooperation between the government, farming community and industry to combat the challenges faced by agriculture sector. He stressed the need to improve agriculture production system on scientific lines to enhance sustainable food production and to meet present and future demands for food in the country.

He lauded the Kissan Package and said that it would bring revolutionary change in agriculture sector. The VC said that Pakistan is an agricultural country and efforts made by the government are appreciable. He said this Kissan Package will encourage farmers to adopt modern methods of cultivation which would boost yield.

In the presence of the federal minister PMAS-AAUR signed four MoU with different organisations including National University of Science & Technology, Mitchell’s Fruit Farm Limited, Lok Sanjh Foundation and Akhtar Hameed Khan Memorial Trust Rawalpindi.