FAISALABAD City News

Scientists asked to develop climate-resilient cotton varieties

From Our Correspondent

FAISALABAD: The agricultural productivity of major crops except corn has been stagnant for the last two decades amid ever-increasing population that is raising a question mark on food security.

This was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while chairing a meeting of the varsity’s Senate at the New Senate Hall. He urged researchers to play their role to address challenges of food security and improve quality of life. He said the government, farming community and civil society demanded out-of-box solution to agricultural problems. He said it was a matter of grave concern that cotton productivity had reduced to 35 per cent this year due to climate changes. He urged scientists to develop climate-resilient varieties to cope with emerging challenges of agriculture. He said the Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, UAF, had identified 10 priority areas for research that would help increase per acre productivity and reduce post-harvest losses. He said threat of pink bollworm, fruit fly and animal ticks were playing havoc with cotton, fruits and livestock production respectively.

The UAF VC said marketing issue for commodity was a barrier for farming community. He said poultry had emerged as the largest industry due to cotton failure. The poultry has witnessed a sharp growth for the last two decades, he added. The varsity research portfolio has touched over $20 million in 728 research projects. He said the UAF singed 118 international and 86 national MoUs last year which reflected growing R&D activities of the varsity. He said 158 teaching faculty was recruited last year to reduce student-teacher ratio and that would help ensure quality education. He said the UAF had organized 400 community development events to disseminate knowledge and skill.