MULTAN City News

UN experts highlight significance of balanced fertilizers
From Our Correspondent
MULTAN: The United Nations agriculture experts Friday in a workshop highlighted the significance of balanced fertilizers for sustainable agriculture and food security.
Addressing a workshop organized by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UNO in partnership with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and the US Department for Agriculture (USDA), the experts stressed the significance of usage of fertilizers in connection with increasing agriculture production.
The participants assessed the use of fertilizer management practices at farm-gate level with special focus on cotton crop. Around 45 participants from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Pakistan Central Cotton Research Institute Multan, National Fertilizer Development Centre, Academia, Harvest Plus, Fertilizer Industry, Farmer Associations, Research Institutes and FAO gathered to share experiences, case studies and initiatives.
Former NDFC chief Dr Nasir Ahmed chaired the workshop, he emphasized on the significance of 4Rs-right fertilizer at the right rate at the right time in the right place for sustainable agriculture in the country.
The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Multan Director Amir Hamza said the soil fertility is also a major issue in Pakistan.
The FAO Soil expert presented a detailed presentation on the project overview and objectives of the workshop. “FAO is working on a baseline atlas of current soil fertility practices, disaggregated by farm size and cropping systems in Pakistan. The atlas will help to understand required soil fertility management changes for sustainable intensification. Consequently, appropriate balanced inputs and 4Rs would be promoted,” the FAO expert said.
A numbers of presentations were presented from the representatives of the public and private sectors regarding fertilizer usage practices particularly related to 4Rs, impact on crop productivity, environment.
The experts noted that gap exists between the recommendations offered by different institutions as well as those practices by farms.
The experts also stressed the need to compile information on 4Rs for the farming communities.