Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) scientists are firm to make the country self-sufficient in agriculture. There is need to ensure the dissemination of innovative technology and knowledge among a farming community of the country to bring change in farmers life and agriculture development.
Mr. Fazal Abbas Maken, Federal Secretary for M/o NFSR, Islamabad on his visit at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad on occasion of “Farmer’s Field Day on Soybean” said that farmers are our asset and provided that innovative technology and knowledge can progress crop production in the country.
The Federal Secretary stated that Soybean, Pakistani farming community is among important crop producers in the world. Local seed holds 18 to 22% oil and 40 to 42% superior quality of protein. More than 400 products are made from soybean seed, used for flour, oil, margarine, cookies, biscuit, candy, milk, vegetable cheese, lecithin and many other products.
He added that the importance of soybean is not only as an oilseed crop and feed for poultry, livestock, and aquaculture, but also a useful source of protein for the human diet as well as a biofuel. He assured the farmers for any kind of support from PARC for advancement of cultivation of groundnut, mung, mash, canola, soybean, and other crops. He also strained to media for sustainable innovations in agriculture sector in Pakistan
Dr. Yusuf Zafar (T.I) Chairman PARC has expressed his views that soybean failed to achieve a decent position among the oilseed crops regardless of efforts of PARC from the late 70s to early 90s. At this time huge import of soybean seed and meat from poultry industry is challenging cost of 80 to 90 billion rupees of foreign exchange. There is an increased demand to resuscitate and promote this miracle crop in Pakistan.
During the last 3 decades, soybean claim has improved in Pakistan because of growing poultry industry. Pakistan used to import soy-meal from India, North and South American countries to fulfill requirements of poultry, livestock, and aquaculture.
Pakistan imported 1.7 million tons soybean seed and meal chiefly soybean seed in 2016-17and spent around 800 million US dollars. The requirements for soybean are continuously increasing because of growing population and increasing Poultry industry in Pakistan.
Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Director General NARC said while briefing to the participants that Oilseeds Research Program of PARC has planted seed multiplication blocks of soybean promising varieties (NARC-1, NARC-2, Ajmeri, Rawal-1 and NARC-16) on 300 acres at NARC farm and also distributed 40 tons soybean seed produced during the last year to farmers in Potohar, KP, and GB. Oilseeds during recent season after realizing the importance of soybean crop and massive import bill of soya meal and oil.
Dr. M. Azeem Khan, Director General NARC thanked all investors together with farmers, NRSP, PODB, ZTBL and others for participating in the Farmer’s Field Day on Soybean organized by NARC. Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan also offered his support for the cultivation of soybean on 1200 acre in Photohar region.
He further added that this activity is to revive farming community and other investor and promote this important crop to save a large amount of valuable foreign exchange disbursed on the import of soybean oil and meal.