Collaborative efforts and modern trends adoption are necessary to develop the agriculture sector for feeding an ever-increasing population of Pakistan, Faisalabad Agriculture University Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan has said. Addressing the junior foreign trainee diplomats from the Foreign Service Academy, he said that the agriculture sector is experiencing significant difficulties as a result of climate change and other reasons, and that experts should work together to support the acceptance of contemporary ideas.

He stated that while Pakistan has the greatest agrological zones for growing different commodities, the nation is trapped with just five crops. According to him, maize output has increased dramatically owing to technology and market pricing mechanisms, but wheat production has been stable for the past 10 years.

He said that Pakistan imported 92% of its edible oil to meet domestic demand and that by promoting oil-seed farms, it could save foreign exchange. According to Dr Iqrar, the university is actively managing a soybean breeding programme that will aid in the growth and development of this sector. He said the university has signed 184 international memorandums of understanding to advance the agricultural sector, which shows it has solid ties with other countries.

Director of Programme, Foreign Service Academy, Irfan Shoukat, who led the delegation, visited the university's laboratories and lauded its initiatives to advance the agricultural sector. He asked the scientists to take solid steps to address the country's current agricultural issues.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk