STAFF REPORT LHR: The agriculture growth is imperative to alleviate poverty in Pakistan and agricultural scientists should explore new ideas to cope with new challenges faced by agriculture sector.

These views were expressed by Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, while addressing participants of recently held third International Conference of Pakistan Society of Agronomy held at AARI, Faisalabad.

The two-day conference was arranged by Pakistan Society of Agronomy with a theme of “Achieving the goal of self sufficiency in agricultural productivity was aimed at achieving sustainable crop productivity.

On the occasion, Dr. Abdul Majid Country Manager, ICARDA, emphasized the need to find new approaches to mitigate ill effects of climatic changes. He said that present cropping systems are exhausting rapidly and new cotton patterns must emerge to improve soil fertility and control of pests.

The scientists must introduce new techniques to increase water use efficiency he added and stated that new techniques of crop sowing save water upto 40 percent. Solar operated supplemental irrigation system must be introduced to avert energy crises he said.

Dr. Nazir Hussain Shah, Director General Agricultural Research, Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa, in his address stressed the need for strengthening co-operation among the scientists of different provinces as well as agricultural research institutions to increase quality of research.

Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Akram, President Pakistan Society of Agronomy in his address highlighted the importance of ensuring food security for ever increasing population.

By Web Team

Technology Times Web team handles all matters relevant to website posting and management.