An eight-member delegation from Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC) led by Mr Lee Bonghoon, Chairman Korean National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (KCID), visited National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad on Friday for cooperation in agriculture sector and rural development.
According to a press release, Dr Nadeem Amjad, Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), while presiding over meeting with Korean delegation said that the PARC was the apex agricultural organisation at national level which was coordinating agricultural research activities in Pakistan with the provinces and international organisations.
He highlighted the main field of research and explained the PARC presence in the provinces with its research centres and institutions which were working for the improvement of agriculture and food security in the country. On this occasion, he also highlighted the prime minister of Pakistan’s scheme for installation of 35,000 solar tubewells in the country to address the small farmers, one of the core issues of water shortage for agriculture.
Dr Pervaiz Khaliq, Senior Director Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Cell (PRMC), explained the NARC and said there were 401 scientists including 120 PhDs, over 19 research institutions and a number of research labs focusing over 96 disciplines of agriculture. He also highlighted PIASA, a degree programme and other facilities at the Centre.
Dr Ahmad Bakhsh Mahar, Member Plant Sciences PARC, highlighted the story of promotion of cultivation of soybean at NARC and its production technology. He said soybean was the need of their country as a large quantity of soybean was imported in Pakistan for solvent and poultry industry.
Member Animal Sciences PARC Dr Shahid Rafiq highlighted the interventions of PARC in livestock sector. He said PARC established National Reference Lab for Poultry Diseases (NRLPD) which was a reference lab for SAARC countries for control of Avian Influenza, HS for livestock, Hydro Pericardium Syndrome for Poultry, Zoonotic diseases, feed technology unit, urea molasses blocks, aquaculture and fisheries, animal biotechnology and silage production plant and other interventions in livestock sector.
The delegation visited field experimental area of department of horticultural research and development (DHRD), silage production plant for small farmers, cow and buffaloe sheds, National Institute of Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology (NIGAB) and Plant Genetic Research Institute (PGRI – Gene Bank).
Later, the Chairman PARC and Director General KRC Korea signed minutes of discussion (MoD) between PARC and KRC Korea for cooperation between both the organisations in manufacturing of high-efficiency irrigation system for ground and flood water management, developing Korean Technology Park in NARC, Korean assistance in developing small dams in Pakistan, soybean and strawberry production technologies, sharing Korean agricultural policy experience, cooperation for manufacturing small and medium size agricultural machinery/ equipment including for value addition in agricultural products, and capacity building of Pakistani scientists and strengthening of Pakistani R&D institutions.