US Consul General Yuriy R.Fedkiw and on Thursday called for collaborative efforts at global level for agricultural growth, to produce more food and to reduce agriculture waste for increasing population. He was inaugurating the newly constructed$30 million U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF). Earlier, he chaired a seminar on sustainable agriculture here. He was flanked by Aussie Deputy High Commissioner Jurek Jufzczyk, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad and former speaker National Assembly Fakhar Imam.
US Consul General said that 800 million people are going hungry as they don’t have an access to nutritive food. The world population will grow to 9 billion people during this century. He said in order to sustainability meet locals needs, the agriculture sector must deliver the food security, environmental sustainable and job opportunities. He stressed upon the need to understand the relationship of food, energy, water and economic security. He said that we have to find the way to fight the climate changes which was disturbing our planet. He said that Pakistan had faced number of disaster in the last decade. Pakistan agriculture is making significant contribution to the national economy, providing 23 percent to the Gross Domestic Product and engaging 45 percent of the workforce. He said that the women are the primary food producer in the developing countries. The women comprise 43 percent to the labor force in the agriculture sector, that the United States is committed to creating economic growth and employment opportunities for the people of Pakistan and considers the agricultural sector a top priority,” He said that agriculture must provide the food security, environmental sustainability and economic development. He said that “We are confident that our investments, in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, will bring long-term positive growth in the sector.” The Consul General encouraged UAF students to find innovative solutions to address Pakistan’s agricultural challenges and identify opportunities that will benefit the people of Punjab.
UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that USCAS-AFS is designed to support Pakistan’s economic development by strengthening the relevance and responsiveness of university products, agricultural uplift and applied and policy research to the needs of the farming community. He said five chairs on climate changes, biotechnology precision agriculture, outreach and policy had set up under the center for the research and development purposes. The CAS is working with its American Partner, University of California, Davis to share an extended outlook of innovative research ideas and exchange of best academic practices. He said that a group of farmers had been sent in Amira and China to know about the latest practices in the sector. They are that may be replicated in Pakistan, He said that UAF was revamping the agriculture policy to make it farmers friendly. He said that producers site in the policy remained neglected in the past. Deputy High Commissioner Jurek Jufzczyk said Aussie was making collaboration with the Pakistani institution to uplift the agriculture sector . He said that the Australia faced the drought a decade ago . With the strategies, and creating the awareness among the public, they have prepared our self for the future challenges. Fakhar Imam said that we are sending the water of 30 million acre every year back to sea and stressed upon the need to construct the reservoirs.