Agriculture experts have said progressive farmers are getting 55 to 80 maunds of wheat per acre whereas an average farmer is getting only 28 maunds, urging the farming community to promote innovation-based knowledge among the traditional farmers to boost the per acre yield of our agriculture sector. These glaring anomalies were the centre of arguments by the speakers at a national conference titled “Recent trends, challenges and future strategies of Agri extension in Pakistan” organised by the Department of Agri Extension, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), at the senate hall. The session was presided over by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.
The speakers called for an enhanced role of extension workers in narrowing the gap in per acre agricultural yield being produced by progressive growers and traditional farmers. They also stressed the need to make the production suitable to the standard set by the World Trade Organization by taking tangible steps and educating the farmers. Prof Iqrar informed the audience that the progressive farmers were getting 55 to 80 mounds of wheat per acre while the average farmers were getting only 28 mounds. “It means that knowledge is there but socio-economic mindset and management strategy used to play the role in this regard is the major difference,” he said.
He stressed the need to shift the knowledge to farmers to make the difference on the horizon of agriculture. He urged the extension workers to come up with innovative ideas to bring the change in the attitude of traditional farmers with their effective skills of persuasion. He said the university is in the process of revisiting its past 50 years’ glory and chalking out a progressive agenda through holding a series of national and international events to celebrate and evaluate the progress made during the last 50 years. Presenting the welcome address, Dr Sher Muhammad, chairman, extension department, told the audience about the role and performance of the department.
M Rafiq Akhtar, director, Agriculture Information Punjab, said agriculture fetches 80 per cent of the country’s total export earnings. He said more than 48 per cent of the labour force is engaged in this sector. Talking about the challenges confronting the farmers, Muhammad Asif Khan, project director, Fruit & Vegetable Development Project Punjab, said the farmers are disorganized and lack confidence. “Dependence of farmers on extension agents for decision making, delay in operations and non-certification of food and fiber products to meet WTO scenario are the issues that need urgent attention,” he said. Professor Dr Nowshad Khan, chairman, Department of Agriculture Sciences, Allam Iqbal Open University, told the audience about the potential to improve the interaction and effectiveness of informal development partners in agriculture development. Dr Idress Khan from Peshawar University talked about the recent trends and challenges in agriculture extension in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
‘Punjab govt providing civic amenities to people’s doorsteps: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said that the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, is working on detailed development programme for the provision of basic amenities of life to the people at their door steps. He was addressing a public gathering at Sir Syed Town after the inauguration of Ganesh Mill Road which is being completed at a cost of Rs 16 million. The minister said elaborated development plan was being implemented in constituency PP-70 for the elimination of backwardness of this area.
He added uplift projects worth Rs 158.60 million had been completed in union councils: 231, 232 and 233 under which the people could get the benefits of durable roads, efficient sewage system and upgraded schools.
He further said the important roads of the areas had been constructed while the schemes of construction of branch roads would be initiated soon with a cost of Rs 10 million after connecting the sewage system with main sewage lines. He added that the sewage lines would be connected with the Chakera Pumping Station lines by May 15 and the longstanding problems of drainage of water of the area would be addressed. The minister directed the Lyallpur Town tehsil municipal officer (TMO) to improve the cleanliness system of the areas and to resolve the issue of street lights. He also thanked the people for reposing full trust in him. Earlier, ex-union nazims Anwar Ali, Azim Yasin, Arshad Gujjar and Basharat Ali Gadhi appreciated the Punjab government’s policies for the welfare and betterment of the people and thanked the minister for providing funds for the construction of Ganesh Mill Road.
