Developing agriculture sector with modern tools govt's top priority: Jamshed Iqbal Cheema

ISLAMABAD, MAY 5: To make aware farmers and common masses of R&D activities, Directorate of Public Relations and Protocol of PARC called on electronic, print and social media groups to acquaint about the agri-research and development activities being carried at National Agricultural Research Centre on Wednesday 5th May, 2021.

Special Assistant to PM on MNFS&R Mr. Jamshed Iqbal Cheema was the chief guest while Chairman PARC, Dr. Azeem Khan; DG NARC, Shamim ul Sibtain Shah, all PARC’s Technical Members, PD’s of PDSP projects i.e Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane, Pulses along with other high officials and scientists were also the participants of this event.

On the occasion, Special Assistant to PM on NFSR said that keeping in view of the vital role of agriculture in the development of country and prosperity of farming community, the agriculture sector is among the top priorities of the present Govt. Due to hard work of agriculture scientists, there is no deficiency of any food commodity in the country. He also attributed the progress in agriculture sector to the pro-farmers policies of the present Govt.

Chairman PARC, Dr. Azeem Khan was of the view that Pakistan Agricultural Research Council is working towards the scientific and technological solutions for addressing the agricultural problems. The highly efficient agricultural scientists/experts are intensively researching in the areas of climate resilient farming systems, technological transformation and high value crop production. The Chairman also added that PARC is putting special focus on technological transformation of agriculture in Pakistan.

The media team visited the field area where they were introduced to the Aeroponic green houses; NARC HG-1 garlic variety fields; wheat trials, wheat /AZRC Dera seed production block; NIGAB activities in biotechnology and Genomics; Horticultural research Institute HRI’s performance in the areas of fruits & vegetables; Agri. Engineering Institute where different Machinery was shown and the Dehydration Units that will be installed at AZRC- umerkot in the near future were Introduced. The visitors also mechanized harvesting of Wheat and visited the rye grass trials of the varieties received from Korea. Media persons also shown interest in Rabbitory and Aquaculture at Animal Research institute.

At the end of the visit, a press briefing was organized for the media representatives in which Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Food Security and Research reviewed the government's agricultural initiatives including increasing milk production, livestock, agricultural machinery, wheat production and other related issues.

-----------------------------------------------