FAISALABAD City News

Increase in yield linked to soil analysis
From Our Correspondent
FAISALABAD: Timely sowing of crops, adoption of the best varieties, balanced use of fertilizer and soil analysis are imperative to increase yield and ensure food security.
It was echoed at a convention of farmers arranged by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad as a part of its ongoing spring festival here on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, UAF VC Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan called for applying and promoting the latest practices of agriculture as per recommendation of the agri experts to increase the productivity to fight hunger. He said that the population was increasing at a large pace whereas land and natural resources were depleting. He called for increasing per acre production, which would not only ensure food security but also reduce poverty from the country. He said that the UAF had been holding the spring festival for the last eight years to ensure interaction of the farming community with the agri experts and policy makers so that their issues could be addressed effectively.
Agriculture (Research) Director General Dr Abid Mehmood said that the country was the sixth largest producing country in sugarcane, fourth in cotton, 16th in vegetable, seventh in wheat and 13th in rice. He said that the disease tolerant and short term varieties were being introduced in the country.
Agriculture (Extension) DG Dr Anjum Ali said that the kitchen gardening must be promoted across the country, which would help provide sufficient food to the people. He said that the department was doing it best to provide the training to the farmers in 36 districts of the province. He said that the Punjab government had approved Rs 1 billion project for disseminating knowledge, technology and seeds among the farming community.
Dr Sandra Mustafa from the Australian Support Linkages Programme said that under the ASLP, the farming community was being trained about the value addition. She said that the citrus, mango and dairy were being given the special focus. She said that the rural women were also playing an active role in the agri sector.