From farm to ruins

Agricultural Research Institute  Tarnab is a premier institute of agricultural  research and development  in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Its research  activities and services include  development of fruit nurseries,  quality seeds, olive orchards,  soil and water testing, insect and  disease control, germination and  food processing. The Tarnab Farm  was established by Mr. Brown, an  Australian who served as its first  Director General until 1931. It is interesting  to note that over a century  ago Brown calculated that he  would need at least 200 acres to  start a decent agriculture research  farm. The farm was thus established  on an area of 200 acres and it  has been delivering its excellent  services till today.  Now fast forward to 2017. There  is an outburst of mindless environmental  destruction aimed at capturing  every inch of green land, cutting  every tree, mowing every bush and  plucking every plant. Let auditoriums,  summit rooms, banquet halls  and VIP helipads be the new alternate  to agriculture research and development.  Build sand and cement  structures so as to make a quick  buck today. After all, tomorrow is  another country. This is the tragic  story of the first phase of the destruction  of the Tarnab Farm. On  May 24 2017, twenty five acres of  the pristine 110 year old farm were  brutally chopped off and handed  over to builders and traders, to  build a new Expo Centre in Peshawar.  Will all those interested in  saving environment and the much  needed agriculture research, raise  their voice to put an end to this  madness?  Naeem Sadiq  Islamabad