ISLAMABAD: The wheat varieties released by the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) have been giving promising results as 60 to 80 mound per acre wheat production has been witnessed in areas of Mirpur Khas, farmers informed the scientists who are part of the “Wheat Travelling Seminar 2015.”
The Wheat Travelling Seminar 2015, which started from Southern Agricultural Research Centre (SARC) Karachi reached to Mirpurkhas where the scientists interacted with the local farmers who shared many success stories relating to bumper wheat production.
The seminar is scheduled to travel through various agricultural research institutes, private sector seed companies and farmers’ fields at Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Tandojam, Sakrand, Sukker, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Khanewal, Kala Shah Kaku and Faisalabad.
During a conference organized in Mirpurkhas, the farmers, however shared many grievances with the Chairman PARC, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad and assured him that if proper attention is paid towards the farmers, the wheat production could increase manifold.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad said that the scientists were diligently working for the promotion of research to help develop agriculture sector on modern lines. He paid tributes to the scientists whose untiring efforts have been bearing fruits in terms of enhanced food production.
He said that the PARC has recently introduced four more new rust-resisting wheat crop varieties including a bio-fortified one that would benefit not only to the farmers but to the whole population in consuming healthy food.
He was of the view that Pakistani small farmers should also be given facilities at par with the farmers of the other countries to achieve maximum per acre wheat yield. “There is also need to encourage Pakistani small farmers on the pattern of Brazil government model for prosperity of faming community,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, agriculture scientists from all across the country, particularly from Sindh province also spoke on the occasion and shared their knowledge with the farmers and other participants on agriculture development.
They appreciated all the collaborators who have organized the traveling wheat seminar adding that it would serves as a travelling university for the farmers who can participate in it and learn many things for the promotion of their yield.
It is pertinent to mention her that the moot has been organized by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with US Department of Agriculture (USDA), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Area (ICARDA) and other national partners.
INP