Pakistan
February 6, 2014

Source: PABIC

Scientists bring change in the life of small farmers through introducing high yielding crops varieties and production technologies. Scientists also focus on that crops which have great potential to enhance edible production in the country and to minimize the foreign exchange bill on import of edible oil.

The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) marketed 30 tonnes canola hybrid seed to small farmers on nominal rates to eliminate private sector Company’s monopoly. Instead of annual crops, premier crops such as olive and palm oil should also be promoted in the country especially in KP, FATA and Balochistan.

This was stated by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad here at Auditorium of National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Park Road, Islamabad while inaugurating a five day training course on ‘Canola Hybrid Development and Hybrid Seed Production Technology’ from February 3-7, 2014.

The training course was organised by PARC in collaboration with Agriculture Research Department, KP at NARC under the ADP Project ‘Indigenisation of Hybrid Research and Development Technology for Crops, Fruits and Vegetables’.

In this training course 21 scientists participated including 17 from KP and four from other provinces like Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. Dr. Ahmad said at present, 75 percent of requirement is met through import.

The import of edible oil has been increased from 1.14 million tonnes during 2000-01 to 2.28 million tonnes during 2011-12, which almost doubled during the last 10 years. He said PARC in collaboration with Provincial Agri Research Departments making efforts to strengthen research and development activities by the national coordination research system (NARS). PARC has further strengthened NARS by creating new cooperative units on commodity crops including ten more on oilseed crops.

He further said that PARC has developed canola hybrid and sunflower (PARSUN-3) hybrids with good yield potential and took the initiative to produce hybrid seed with PARC Agro-Tech Company (PATCO) on pilot scale. PATCO-PARC marketed 30 tonnes of canola hybrid seed during last two years.

The seed was distributed in 22 districts of Punjab and KP through private seed company and PATCO, to approximately 5,000 farmers. On this occasion, PSD Member Dr. Shahid Masood, NARC DG Dr. M Azeem Khan, Agri Res, KP DG Dr. Abdul Latif, CSI Sr Dir. Dr. Akbar Shah Mahmend, National Coordinator (Oilseed Crops) Dr. M Amjad, API Dir Dr. M Aslam and Project Incharge Mr. M Shah Sawar Khan and other speakers also highlighted the objectives of the training course, capacity building of young scientists, researchable issues and tangible achievements under the project.

Dr. Latif and Sarwar Khan appreciated the support from PARC to KP province in various discipline of agriculture and capacity building of their young scientists.

Original link: http://www.pakissan.com/english/news/newsDetail.php?newsid=25275

Website: http://www.pabic.com.pk

Published: February 6, 2014