It was stated by UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa while addressing the meeting of Technical Advisory Committee of Endowment Fund Secretariat while Ayub Research Director General Dr Abid Mehmood, the Fund Executive Director Dr Jaffar Jaskani, Progressive farmer Faisal Shah, Dr Bashir Ahmad Khan from Peshawar University, Dr Rana Amir and other notables also attended the meeting.

The Vice Chancellor said that problem-solving researches coupled with a mechanism of translating the knowledge into products are prerequisite to alleviate poverty and to compete with the rest of the world. He directed the scientists to develop the disease-resilient seeds keeping climate changes and new challenges in view. He said as the majority of population was residing in rural areas and the economy was depending upon agriculture. If we manage to better agriculture practices and varieties, it will improve our economy. He said that the strong academia-industry ties will pave the way to make the development and prosperity. He said that the quality and demand driven researches will help cope with the challenge facing the country. He urged experts to reach out to farming community about latest technologies and trends that will increase the productivity. He said that it was a challenge for the social scientists. Dr Abid Mehmood said that due to advancement in the agriculture sector, the productivity of all major crops had gone up manifold. He added that we have to work hard to cope with new issues of agriculture and they were working on new seeds.

Dr Jaffar Jaskani stressed upon the scientists to conduct the goal oriented research. He said that team work in the research was vital to bring the change on the face of science and technology. He said that that in HEC research productivity award, the UAF 31 scientists had won the award and UAF stood first countrywide.

The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and Spurt International, Faisalabad inked a Memorandum of Understanding relating to work together on off-season vegetable production. The MoU was duly inked by UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa and Spurt International Managing Director Mohsin Malik. The both side agreed to collaborate in establishment of modern tunnels for demonstration of production technology of horticultural crops at Vegetable Research Area, Institute of Horticultural Sciences (HIS), UAF. The varsity will provide research and development advisory services whereas Spurt International, Faisalabad will provide the Funding, necessary installations, maintenance, inputs, planting materials and other consumables. Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa said that as the result of this projects, the university community and locals can purchase off-season vegetables from the varsity in a couple of months. He said that such projects will help the country make the advancement in the agriculture sector. He said that the university was taking the new initiatives and the modern agriculture would be showcased around the University U-Road. Director External Linkages Dr Rahseed Ahmad, Dr Shahzad Basra, and others notables.