The experts on Saturday called for stepped up efforts to develop and promote value chain and decent work in agriculture sector that will not only help alleviate poverty but also fetch foreign exchange.
They were addressing International Symposium on Global Value Chains Decent Work Deficit in Agriculture: Present Challenges and Future Prospects arranged by Institute of Business Management Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) here.
IBA University Sukkur Vice Chancellor Dr Nisar Ahmad Siddique said that agricultural is the backbone of our economy that is contributing 20 percent to Gross Domestic Product. He said that illiteracy was one of major challenge for the country that is root cause of many problems.
He said that there is need to promote the latest trend in the agriculture sector in order to alleviate poverty and to increase productivity in the country. He said that qualified son of a farmer does not want to be a farmer.
He called for taking measures to make agriculture a profitable profession. He said that they had initiated talent hunt program in IBA. The scope of the program is being widened in the all provinces of the country. He said that without quality education, we cannot compete with rest of the world.
Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, Director Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Dr Asif Ali, Government College Women University Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi, Punjab Agriculture Research Board Chief Executive Officer Dr Noorul Islam, Akua Britwum from University of Cape Coast Ghana, Dr Waqar Akram from IBA University Sukkur, Agriculture University Peshawar Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Noor P Khan, Dr Amanullah Malik, Dr Muhammad Ashfaq, Dr Younus, Incharge IBA Dr Abdul Ghafoor, Dr Mubashar, Dr Hammad Badar and other notables also spoke on the occasion.—APP