Agri Research must reach farmers door-steps: Minister

Lahore: Agricultural Research must reach at the door-steps of farmers so that their cost of production can be reduce and increase their yield per acre.

These views were expressed by Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi while presiding over the 46th meeting of the Punjab Agricultural Research Board at Lahore. Chief Executive PARB Dr. Abid Mahmood presented 18 schemes proposed before Board members, out of which, 16 projects costing a total Rs.343.399 million , over which 6 Agriculture related projects with worth of Rs. 180.517 million & 10 livestock related projects at a cost of Rs. 162.882 million was approved by Minister for Agriculture after unanimous consent of Board members.

While addressing the meeting, Provincial Agriculture Minister said that agricultural scientists have to play their constructive role for increasing National production and better output. The commercial plan needs to be implemented on a commercial scale which will not only increase the profits of the farmers but also meet the demand of the people and also stabilize the prices.

On the occasion, Secretary Agriculture, Punjab Asad Rehman Gillani said that the aim of research should not be “Research for Research” but to develop varieties that could increase the profits of farmers on commercial scale. He directed Chief Executive, PARB, Dr. Abid Mahmood to present a detailed report on the results of the research conducted so far with the funding of PARB.

Member Punjab Assembly Syed Khawar Shah, Mrs. Shahida Ahmad, Secretary Agriculture, Punjab Asad Rehman Gillani, President Kissan Ittehad Khalid Khokhar and other members participated.