An effective coordination among agricultural universities, research and extension departments need to be enhanced to cope with the growing food and fibre demands of the country. This was stated by the speakers of a stakeholders’ workshop “development of unified agricultural research system comprising education, research and extension” here at new senate hall on Monday morning.

Addressing the participants, former NA speaker and progressive farmer Syed Fakhar Imam said the parliament has a majority of the farmers but they have turned a deaf ear to raise their real issue regarding formulation of agricultural policy in the country. He said agriculture was the mainstay of the economy and will remain a driving force in the future with multiple challenges which can only be addressed with an integrated approach of all stakeholders. Syed Fakhar Imam expressed his dismay over the declining trends in all developmental indicators and said agriculture sector requires an effective collaboration among education, research and extension services which at present, operating under different departments and silos with minimal coordination. “Unfortunately, Pakistani universities are not being used by the industry whereas European Union has a unified agricultural policy with the help of their universities” he added. He said though he is a cotton grower but looking at the shabby conditions and CLC virus this year, he intend to ran away and look for alternatives. He urged the expert to come with concrete strategies to overcome the growing threat.

¬Former Vice Chancellor UAF and renowned scientists Prof. Dr. Amir Muhammad emphasized the need for better coordination among three pillars of agriculture system as world is constantly changing and developments are taking place which need a better working and integration. He urged the government to invest more funds on agriculture thereby to grab the desired results. He underlined the need for conducing comparative studies of various crops with other countries like India and Egypt so as to find out our weakness and strengths in agriculture. He told there is a tremendous scope of improvement but we need a strong management system with all ways and means of advanced needs.

Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad felicitated Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif for constituting a committee on evolving a unified agricultural research system comprising education, research and extension. He said that in Pakistan, Lyalpur Model of education, research and extension was disintegrated in early sixties but the same model produced commendable results in India where 45 universities were operating under this model. He said “though disparities are in the service structure but we should move forward by undertaking all such issues into consideration”. While pointing out the way forward Dr. Iqrar. A. Khan asked for massive investment in agriculture research, integration of agricultural triangular and capacity building in a new and innovative way. He told that the aim of the workshop was to involve the stakeholders in a discussion process for developing an acceptable model for integration, to revisit the existing models, have input from stakeholders and to publish and share its outcomes.

Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik asked for sufficient operational research funds for all agricultural research organizations and all departments and organizations can put together if we maintain a uniform service structure. He floated an idea to bring all officials of research and extension wings by setting up a faculty of agricultural research and extension in UAF.

Dr. Mubarik Ali, Chairman PARB said his organization tried to bridge the gap and brought other institutions close to UAF by funding 21 research projects. He maintained that Pakistan is a country where return rate of agriculture research is about 80% than 41% of the rest of developing world. He told that Indian have more then 20 year hybrid experience than Pakistan where we are lagging behind with no considerable research in hybrid.

Dr. Khalid Mehmood Khan VC Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi underlined the need for changing the mindsets of all stakeholders by thinking out of the box solutions. “we need to go forward beyond claiming and arguing for out existing positions by an open mind” he added. He emphasized for a visionary leadership with broader national and international experience so as to construct a firm foundation by evolving an acceptable national agricultural policy which can address all agricultural issues effectively.

Dr. Muhammad Ehsan Tusneem Member Food & Agriculture Planning Commission of Pakistan said agriculture is the savior of the country in past, present and will remain future economy of the country. He said government 10th five year plan is on the cards by the government. He said “topical issue is to see the knowledge is being translated into good s and services, and universities need to introduce various packages for all crops by getting all analysis” he added. He advocated his idea that new challenges need new strategies which needs new institutions which could compete with the existing ones.

Syed Faisal Hassan rice exporter, Dr. Noor ul Islam Khan from Ayoub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad and others also spoke on the occasion.