|
Main Page
|
 |
|
News Channel |
|
Agri projects to be launched in Bahawalpur and
Cholistan desert
ISLAMABAD (April 09 2004): Mega projects will be
launched for development of agriculture in
Bahawalpur and Cholistan desert which will help
increase the income of farmers and alleviate
poverty in the area.
Chairman, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC),
Dr Badaruddin Soomro, said while addressing senior
scientists of PARC and NARC here on Thursday.
Dr Soomro said scientists should focus their
attention to establish a regional capability to
tackle the problems of arid areas and develop
suitable techniques for the best land use in
Cholistan desert.
He further said that scientists should assess the
social and economic acceptability of technological
innovations and develop suitable methods for the
rapid and effective dissemination of information
so that farmers could be able to get benefit out
of these technologies developed by PARC and NARC
scientists.
Dr Soomro said PARC will launch a Mega project in
Bahawalpur and Cholistan, through which latest
laboratories will be established and manpower will
be provided to strengthen the agricultural
research for development of agricultural sector in
dry areas.
This will bring major change in farming community
and will help to alleviate poverty, he added.
Dr Badaruddin Soomro appreciated the efforts of
agricultural scientists of this region who have
made significant contribution towards the research
and development of this area.
He said AZRI, Bahawalpur has done well in the crop
sciences, land and water resources, animal
sciences, and saline research accomplishments.
It is to be noted that Pakistan Agriculture
Research Council provided a lead in increasing
productivity of arid and semiarid areas of
Pakistan.
It also accepted the challenge of reversing the
trend of land degradation that was resulted from
misuse and over exploitation of natural resources.
Therefore it established the Arid Zone Research
Centre (AZRC) at Quetta, Balochistan, D.I. Khan,
Umerkot, Bahawalpur.
The headquarters at Quetta is mostly working for
cold desert areas while the other three are taking
care of the hot deserts of.
Earlier, Dr Rukhsana Anjum, Director AZRI,
Bahawalpur while briefing the Chairman, Pakistan
Agriculture Research Council, apprised that AZRI
produced 9 improved varieties of grafted Ber, viz
Soofen, Delhi white, Aloo, Bukhara, Shereen,
Ajooba, Kali das, Karela and Umeri special. AZRI
provided almost 15,000 scions to NADRI project and
Agri.
Extension Department, AJK for budding and
grafting. Ber provide an income of Rs 100,000/-
acre approximately in addition to other crops
which are inter-cultured in the same unit of land.
She told that medicinal plants in collaboration
with Islamia university has been identified and
wheat, sugarcane, grasses, guar varieties were
tested and evaluated.
She told that recently Saline Aqua-culture
technique has been initiated which will help find
alternate source of animal protein to better feed
the poor and malnourished communities of Cholistan
desert.
Courtesy Business Recorder
|
|
|
|
|
Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
|
|
