University of Agriculture Faisalabad is mulling establishing country first Insect Museum at the old campus building, in order to preserve the bio-diversity system. It was discussed at scholarly exchange program organized by US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (USPCAS-AFS) with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad in the Chair. Progressive Farmer Syed Faisal Shah, USPCAS Chief of Party Dr Bashir Ahmad, deans and directors attended the meeting. A delegation of five-faculty members who have returned from University of California Davis under scholarly exchange programme USPCAS-AFS gave the presentation on the occasion.

The Vice Chancellor said that the museum was meant for research and development activities and to display the spices of different insect before the audience. A committee under the convenership of Dean Sciences Dr Muhammad Javed has been constituted for the purpose. He said that plant pathological, entomological and zoological aspects would be addressed during the collection of the various species. The Vice Chancellor also directed the meeting to set up alfalfa working group in order to overcome the shortage of fodder in the county. He also directed the working group to work out on the economical impact of the alfalfa. The meeting also decided that the lab safety course would be kicked off in PhD for creating the awareness about precautionary measures and protocol of the laboratories. The Vice Chancellor said that the country was blessed with tremendous resources but we are not tapping our potential. He said that water scarcity, low agricultural productivity, increasing population, climate changes were posing the threat of food insecurity. He also directed the meeting that the researches should not be piled up in the libraries. It must be transformed into goods and services.

Faisal Shah urged the agricultural experts to work with the farmer community that will help address the real issue of the farmers. In the changing climate conditions, he called for diverse agronomic practices for the high values crops. Dr Bashir Ahmad said that on May 18, the USPCAS-AFS shortlisted research projects contestant will defend their idea before the steering committee of the USPCAS-AFS. Dr Muhammad Arshad, Dr Bushra Sultana, Dr Lubna Anjum, Dr Sidra Ijaz and Dr Ameer Bibi gave the presentation of their six months experience at the UC Davis.