Pakistan Agriculture Developments

[ghazi52]

CCRI imparts training to master trainers of KP, Balochistan

MULTAN (APP): The Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) launched two-day training programme for master trainers of Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with an aim to promote cotton production across the country. Chairing the inaugural session of the training programme, In-charge Agronomy Department CCRI Dr Naveed Afzal informed participants about planning for cotton cultivation, recommended seeds, soil preparation, timing of cultivation, number of plants per acre, cultivation methodology and elimination of weeds from the field. He also briefed them about new technology for enhancing crop production. He stated that the best management was of vital importance for achieving bumper production. In-charge Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics Dr Idrees Khan informed about the different varieties prepared at Central Cotton Research Institute. He claimed that CCRI varieties had immense production potential.

In-charge Department of Cytogenetics Madam Farzana also described about different steps to pertaining to preparation of disease resistant varieties.

 

[ghazi52]

Domestic production, characterization of recombinant thermostable cellulase

Pakistan poultry industry has made remarkable and tremendous progress for the past twenty years and is committed to provide good quality meat to the population. Poultry feed is one of the most important factor affecting the meat production and high cost of broiler. The high cost of commercial feed for broiler chicks has drawn attention of farmers to use non-conventional feed including palm kernel, wheat, maize, rye, oat and barley based feeds.

The nutritional value of such diets is limited due to high amount of fibers in the form of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP). The NSP including mannans and xylan have cellulose about 12% of the total feed. The digestion of these kinds of fractions in intestinal lumen is variable due to their tendency of creating more viscous environment and less availability of digestive enzyme. This constraint can be resolved by the supplementation of poultry feed with specific enzyme such as cellulase for proper hydrolysis of polysaccharides.

 

[ghazi52]

Drip irrigation has massive potential to save water

Nestlé Waters Senior Vice President and Head of Technical Peter Hagmann inaugurated a site near Sheikhupura under “Nestlé Pakistan’s Agricultural Efficiency Project”. The project has the potential to help save 54 million litres of water annually. It is part of the company’s “Caring for Water” initiative which undertakes a collective approach to help address the water issue. The water saving will be made possible by the installation of a drip irrigation system as opposed to flood irrigation, which is the traditional way of irrigating fields in Pakistan. All over the world, around 70% of water is used in the agriculture sector. In Pakistan, the percentage stands at 90% with 50% wastage due to poor irrigation methods. In order to save water in agriculture and improve productivity, Nestlé Pakistan has fostered partnerships with the government and farmers to promote drip irrigation.

 

[ghazi52]

FAO Resource Centre inaugurated at Sindh Agriculture University

TANDO JAM: With an aim to engage and support Pakistani youth associated with agriculture, the FAO Resource Centre was inaugurated at Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam.

Mina Dowlatchahi FAO Representative in Pakistan and Professor Dr Mujeeb-uddin Memon Sahrai unveiled the plaque in the presence of senior faculty members of the university, students and FAO delegation.

As a result of collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this center will promote the use of latest technology through development of strong relationship with farmer groups, researchers and academia.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mina` Dowlatchahi FAO Representative in Pakistan said “FAO looks forward to a fruitful and long collaboration to support youth development and unlocking the potential of the agriculture sector in Sindh. This center will improve delivery to agri-sector and help encourage combined investment and strategies for sustainable agriculture development in the province”.

Graduates will be facilitated at the center by providing them access to mentors and gain valuable career development advice and ideas. This will also serve as a platform for research and development to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

Uptake of new technologies, changes in agricultural and water management practices by small holder farmers with concurrent actions to help conserve natural resources and protect the ecosystems are crucial for achieving food security and the eradication of malnutrition in all its forms in Sindh.

In this connection, FAO is working to implement a land tenure system that can sustainably improve the equitable access to, and governance of, land and natural resources, allowing for improvements in agricultural production, food security and nutrition under the project ‘Improved Land Tenancy in Sindh Province (ILTS)’ with the financial assistance of the European Union in 8 districts of Sindh.

Another project to help small farmers in selected districts of Indus basin to build their resilience and adapt to climate change has also been finalized which will directly benefit 1.5 million people in the area.

Vice Chancellor of the university thanked FAO for the support in setting up the center and said students, faculty and farmers will benefit alike.

 

[ghazi52]

Halal Meat: Pakistan’s great export potential?

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan on Saturday visited Fauji Meat Limited (FML) Plant at Mirpur Sakro (Thatta), near Port Qasim, Karachi. According to a press statement, the minister was briefed by FML Chief Operating Officer Hashim Raza about the plant, the subsidiary company of Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Limited.

The Fauji Meat Limited plant has a state of the art Halal Meat Processing Plant having a daily production capacity of 100 tons of meat which includes 85 tons Beef and 15 tons mutton daily (30, 000 tons/year). Zabeeha is a domestic sub-brand of Fauji Meat Limited. It is the only facility within Pakistan that is in compliance with EU and international Standards.

Zabeeha ensures best meat choices for their customers, by delivering organic poultry, beef, mutton, and seafood products with zero external artificial additives. Zabeeha is incorporating 100% halal slaughtering techniques by offering premium quality meat.

The FML Plant is the only investment in South East Asia built with an aim and capacity to provide 100% certified Halal meat to its international and domestic consumers. It is the largest and most technologically advanced plant in the country having a capacity of processing 150 tons of meat per day. The company is managing the world-class tractability process of animals from farms until the delivery to the customers. At the industrial level the FML has the capacity to generate foreign exchange from $ 200 to 500 million for the national exchequer, the statement added.

The FML has built an international export ecosystem which is facilitating in growing the brand name irrespective of terrestrial limitations while the company has already government to government approval of meat export in 11 countries.

 

[ghazi52]

Fresh rains to prove useful for wheat crop

The current winter rain spell in the country will likely increase the wheat production this year particularly in central and northern regions, Director General Pakistan Meteorological Department Muhammad Riaz told The Nation on Thursday.

He said that production of wheat during current winter rain spell depends on the grown stage of the wheat crop.

He said that rain proves damaging for wheat crop if it is ready for harvest but will prove useful when the wheat plant is still green.

 

[ghazi52]

UVAS Pattoki Campus sets up drip irrigation plant

Just 82 kilometers off to Lahore, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Pattoki Campus has set up drip irrigation plant for effective use of water during crop irrigation with the financial support of multinational company Nestle.

“There are multiple challenges to curb the water wastage during crop cultivation especially when farmers and agriculture students in Pakistan are not much aware from latest techniques for effective usage of water,” UVAS Agriculture Officer Saeed Ahmed briefed the media on Friday at UVAS Pattoki Campus.

UVAS has experimented to use drip irrigation plant on 6.7 acres university premises on which the university has planted guava and other fruits seed. Apart from conducting training sessions for farmers, the UVAS in collaboration with Punjab Skill Fund introduced six-month short courses in floriculture and horticulture. There are 200 plus students who have completed university short courses certification in one year. The certification is accepted in 27 countries including European and Middle East countries.

 

[ghazi52]

Growers advised to complete sowing of Moong lentils crop by end of March

February 24, 2019

Punjab Agriculture Department has advised the growers to complete sowing of Moong lentils crop by the end of the next month.

According to Spokesman of the department Najaf Abbas, Chakwal M-6 is an approved variety for rain fed areas while for irrigated areas NIAB Moong 2006 and NIAB moong 2011, NIAB moong 2016 and PRI Moong 2018 are the approved varieties.

He said that growers should use 10 to 12 kilograms of seed per acre for these varieties.

He said the experts have recommended using these approved varieties because of their resistance against diseases and more production per acre.

 

[ghazi52]

Strawberry from syedwala, Punjab

 

[ghazi52]

THE value of agriculture land has appreciated significantly in Sindh over the past decade. The increase, however, is not uniform across the province. The price of per-acre land located on the left bank of the Indus river is higher than in upper Sindh on the right bank.

People watching the price movement in rural Sindh attribute the hike to multiple factors, including better returns on farm investment, commercialisation of land for housing schemes in the periphery of major towns and rupee’s devaluation, in addition to the quality of land and access to water sources.

The left-bank area of the Indus river is fed by two perennial major canals of the Sukkur barrage — ie Rohri and Nara — while land in upper Sindh by non-perennial canals including Dadu and Rice.

In Shikarpur district (upper Sindh), an acre of B-class land is priced at Rs 700,000 to Rs 800,000 today. It was selling at Rs200,000 per acre 10 years ago, according to Haji Ameer Bux Pahore, a grower.

B-class land is either waterlogged or suffers salinity whereas A-class land is rich in fertility, Mr Pahore says. “Therefore, A-class rural plots are expensive and cost up to Rs2 million an acre.”

 

[ghazi52]

Peanut cultivation from mid March

Growers have been advised to start the cultivation of peanut from mid of March for better production.

A spokesman of agriculture department said on Saturday that late sowing of peanut could affect the quality of the production.

He said time from mid-March to end April is the most suitable for peanut cultivation, therefore, growers should start cultivation of approved varieties of peanut. Peanuts growers can contact experts for guidance, he advised.

 

[ghazi52]

PM imposes ban on use of agricultural land for housing schemes

A high level meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair in Lahore on Friday decided to impose ban on the use of agricultural land for housing schemes.

According to the Spokesman of Punjab Chief Minister, the meeting also approved a strategy to reduce the use of agriculture land for other purposes.

The Spokesperson said that the Punjab government will now focus on vertical growth in buildings without increasing the ground coverage.

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Provincial Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rashid and other senior officials attended the meeting.

 

[ghazi52]

China keen to accelerate development of agriculture sector


MARCH 1, 2019

A Chinese delegation on Pak China Socio-Economic Joint Working Group headed by DU ZHENLI, Director / Prof. of Engineering, Overseas Economic Cooperation Deptt visited Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).

Chinese delegation held meeting with Dr. Munir Ahmed, Acting Chairman, PARC for Pak-China Collaboration in Agriculture Sector under CPEC.

On the occasion, Dr. Munir Ahmed, The Chairman, PARC acknowledged the support of China in various projects of PARC. In a meeting with Chinese Delegation, he gave a detailed presentation about PARC, its mission and vision to achieve sustainable food security and poverty alleviation through knowledge and innovation.

Dr. Munir Ahmed, Chairman, PARC also briefed the delegation about presence of PARC in the Country, National Agricultural System of Pakistan, PARC discipline of in-house research, i.e. Plant Sciences, Natural Resources, Animal Sciences, Agricultural Engineering and Social Sciences. He also highlighted the Pakistan Agricultural Scenario and PARC major achievements. Chairman, PARC further added that agriculture and socio economic development are also included in Pak-China Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In the meeting, Pak- China experts also exchanged the agricultural information and discussed the areas of mutual interest to accelerate the development of Agriculture sector in Pakistan. Director / Prof. of Engineering, Overseas Economic Cooperation Deptt China, DU ZHENLI discussed the mutual priorities for development in agriculture sector under Pak-China Socio Economic joint Working Group.

The Chinese delegation appreciated the PARC’s role of collaboration with international partners for the development of agricultural sector in Pakistan. The Chinese delegation was of the view that this meeting would definitely prove fruitful to further strengthen existing collaboration between the both countries. Chinese delegation also stated that China intends to provide help in different agri. Research projects being carried out at NARC and also aims assistance for training of NARC’s agri. Scientists according to their field. Dr. Munir Ahmed, acting Chairman, PARC also presented a PARC Shield to the head of Chinese delegation on the occasion.

 

[ghazi52]

Peanut cultivation from mid March

Growers have been advised to start the cultivation of peanut from mid of March for better production.

A spokesman of agriculture department said on Saturday that late sowing of peanut could affect the quality of the production.

He said time from mid-March to end April is the most suitable for peanut cultivation, therefore, growers should start cultivation of approved varieties of peanut. Peanuts growers can contact experts for guidance, he advised.

 

[ghazi52]

CCRI starts cotton seed germination free lab test

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/app

March 10, 2019

MULTAN : Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan has started free laboratory test of seed germination before sowing of cotton crop.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Director CCRI Multan Dr Zahid Mahmood said that cotton growers across the country could send 100 grams cotton seed packets through courier service and the result of the seed germination would be conveyed within five days through Short Message Service (SMS) on their mobile numbers.

He said the institution was striving hard to provide guidance and training to cotton growers.

The cotton growers should send their name, address and CNIC numbers on Tele cotton helpline number 0334 1121213. The institution was providing information and guidance to registered cotton growers during cotton season through mobile text messages.