Pakistan is among the largest producers of cotton, maize and rice but the yield and quality of agricultural products is not at par with the world standards.
Therefore, it is imperative to adopt science-based agriculture at the national level in order to meet the constantly growing food, fiber and fodder demands in Pakistan.
This was highlighted by the country’s renowned biotechnologists at the launching ceremony of International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) report on global status of genetically modified (GM) crops, organised by Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (PABIC) in collaboration with its Lahore chapter at Forman Christian College University.
Speaking on the occasion, renowned biotechnologists Dr Kauser Abdullah Malik and Dr Tayyab Hussnain said that modern biotechnology is one of the important developments of the present era has immense potential for improving agricultural productivity.
They said that Pakistan needs coherent policies and clear implementation strategy to adapt agri biotech, focusing on crops which require less water, less fertilisers and pesticides and give more yields to feed the growing population as well as to provide raw material for high value exports. Therefore, it is the need of time to adopt the agriculture biotechnology at the national level in order to meet the constantly growing food demands in Pakistan, they suggested.
FFCU Rector Dr James Tebbea highlighted the importance of promotion of science as well as the need for ventures such as ISAAA in order to engage science in a better manner.
