The country was facing the issue of weak marketing for agricultural produce, marring getting reasonable prices not only domestically but also at the international market. This was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad while addressing inaugural session of a three-day workshop on students' entrepreneurship and professional development arranged by Department of Computer Sciences at the New Senate Hall, UAF.
Chairing the session, he showed his concern that middlemen were fleecing the producers as well as the consumers. He said that keeping in view, we have to strengthen our agricultural marketing system in order to make the agriculture a profitable sector. He said that in the modern trends, the online shopping had gained an immense importance. There is a dire need to get the benefit from information and communication technologies to compete with the rest of the world. He said that under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Faisalabad was the lucky one which is surrounded by two sides in north and south, creating the new business opportunities. He said that in China, the wages were four times higher than us. He said we have to prepare ourselves with the entrepreneurial skills, good marketing tools and innovative ideas to sell our produces in the international market at the reasonable prices. He lamented that mostly, it is observed that the students were looking for a job after completion of their studies. He said that we have to polish the entrepreneurial skills and innovative ideas to become a self employed. He said that He said that that the University had established a Business Incubation Center eight year ago in order to provide a plate forum and giving an opportunity to the students to run a start-up company. Pakistan Institute of Entrepreneurship CEO Tahir Mehmood Ch said that more than 90 percent of the products in the country directly or in-directly related to the agriculture. He stressed the need to inculcate the Information and Communication Technology with the agriculture sector in order to increase the profitability in the sector. He called for honing the skills relating to entrepreneurial skills, and innovative ideas to work as the key of the bright future. He said there is need to tap the agricultural sector as the country was having the four seasons, ecological zone etc. He said that with the usage of social media, the farming community can sell their produces. ovative Dean Faculty of Sciences Dr Muhammad Javed called for enhancing the skills of students with innovative ideas, so that they can face the challenges of life effectively. He said that no nation can make development without skills development, and hard work. He said that universities is playing a pivotal role in the development of entrepreneurial among the students. Computer Sciences Department Chairman Dr Tasleem Mustafa urged the students to take the career into own hands and start a project or a small business whether you are selling the produce on the social media, internet. He said his department was offering a new business or project which can act internship. He said that his department had produced thousands of IT professional who are working successfully across the country and abroad.