The conversion of fertile agriculture land into residential colonies needs to be discouraged to ensure the food security amid the challenges of shrinking agricultural land and ever-increasing population, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.
He was inaugurating three-day Agri Tourism Festival arranged by Agri Tourism Development Corporation of Pakistan as chief guest at Chak No. 199, East Canal Road. He said that with the adoption of modern trends, we can increase agricultural productivity manifold. He said that the country was facing the different challenge in term of low per acre productivity, climate changes and new diseases for the agriculture sector. He called for stepped-up efforts on the part of the all stakeholders to address the issue at the national level. He said that with non-adoption of the latest trends, our agriculture is not compatible with the rest of the world. He called for safeguarding our rural culture and rural products with value addition. He said the tourism is the largest industry and in the recent years, the agri tourism had gained popularity and attracting the urban population in it. He said that the university was strengthening its ties with the farming community and industry in order to effectively address their problems. FCCI Vice President Rao Sikandar said the festival would provide an opportunity to the urban population to refuge from the monotonous routine and spent the time in the rural culture that would fascinate them. He said that lassi is an hygienic drink which trend is declining. There is the need to revive our cultural products. Tariq Tanvir CEO Agri Tourism Development Corporation said that the festival was meant for highlighting the rural culture and product. He said that they were taking all possible steps to promote the agri tourism in the country. Dr Shahzad Basra said that academia and farmers enhanced ties would bring the tangible result in order to increase the productivity. He said that university was making measures to redress the woes of the rural population.