Minister for Agriculture, Food, Planning and Development Punjab Sardar Tanvir Ilyas presided over 40th PARB Board meeting. Secretary Agriculture Punjab Wasif Khurshid was also accompanied him. The meeting was attended by members of PARB Board and Chief Executive PARB Dr. Noor-Ul-Islam.
During session, the provincial minister was briefed about activities of PARB and on this occasion, Chief Executive PARB presented him Annual Report of PARB 2017-18 and briefed Minister that PARB launched 84 funded projects along with 21 on-going projects.
There held 24 conferences / trainings funded by PARB. On this occasion, Care-taker Minister said that revolution in agriculture sector is possible only because of modern agricultural research. At present, agriculture sector is contributing 60 to 70% of exports nationwide, therefore, need of time is to work in agriculture sector on modern basis for its development.
At present, we are facing climate change in country and passing through age of transition as after some years ago some varieties of crops may be extinct due to on-going climate transformation.
Agriculture Department should research about such varieties of cotton and other crops that have inherit ability to bear more heat and also such varieties that can give high yield by use of minimal water.
Special attention should be focused to produce full yield of future crops. While the Secretary Agriculture Punjab briefed about PARB activities. The Secretary displayed his pleasure for managing PARB affairs efficiently.
Secretary said that the real progress in agriculture sector is possible only because of timely completion of PARB projects and he is keeping himself an eye on these projects as real aim of department is to serve farming community in best manner so that agriculture production can be increased and agriculture sector could become a profitable sector.