Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Hayat Khan Bosan on Monday stressed the need to promote biotechnology in order to improve agriculture productivity in the country.
Addressing the launching ceremony of ISAAA Report-44 on Global Status of commercialised Biotech Crops, he said that biotech crops can significantly increase productivity and could serve as an engine of rural economic growth that can contribute to alleviate property from the country.
The minister said that Pakistan was an agricultural country and 70 percent of its population was directly or indirectly dependent on it. Therefore, it was imperative to use modern agricultural technologies in order to increase crops’ yield to meet the growing demand, he added.
He said, “Biotechnology is a modern tool to improve productivity of agriculture sector and application of its benefits at farmers’ doorstep would play an important role in enhancing productivity that ultimately will help to ensure food security and reducing poverty in the country.”
He highlighted that the use of agri-biotech could address the issue of food insecurity and for which it is necessary to promote and enhance the understanding of bio-technology amongst farmers. The minister said that a farmer oriented national strategy and plan of action was needed in order to make use of this science to increase agricultural output.
He also pointed out that Pakistan was among the first few countries to realise the potential of biotechnology in the early 70s but the process has slowed down. He said that development of biotechnology at grassroots level is of great importance in order to reap much needed benefits.
“Keeping in mind the future, our country needs to work out plans for drought control, efficient use of nitrogen, increased nutrition value of food crops by employing modern farming methods and also develop a chain for sustainable and quality supply of food in the country,” he added.
Addressing the seminar, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security & Research Seerat Asghar Jaura said that no economic policy could succeed unless agricultural sector is placed at its centre.
The event was attended by members of National Bio Safety Committee, National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology.