16 January 2005	Sunday	05 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Jan 15: Member of New Zealand's Parliament and agriculture scientist, Dr. Ashraf Choudhry has stressed speedy adoption of conservation technologies by Pakistan to 'save water, increase yields , enhance farmer's incomes and alleviate poverty'.

Talking to Dawn during a visit to Pakistan, the country of his birth, Dr Choudhry said that farmers were adopting these technologies mostly on their own. "A key push by the government was urgently required for the adoption of these technologies on a major scale to boost the country's agriculture," he said.

Dr Choudhry, who has played a vital role in the development and propagation of conservation technologies, laser levelling and zero tillage in particular, felt that federal and provincial governments should make a more concerted effort to expand coverage of lands under conservation practices, particularly when water resources of Pakistan were dwindling.

A graduate from the Agriculture University of Faisalabad, Dr Choudhry made these observations during his annual visit to Pakistan. He said that members of the farming sector were initially suspicious of new technologies but results convinced them to apply them.

He said that his father was reluctant in giving up traditional methods of sowing crops, but accepted conservation technologies because their application produced higher yield that meant increase in income from the fields and saved water, financial investment and labour.

He felt that necessary groundwork had been done for introducing these technologies among farmers and those applying them were pleased with results. The take-off point in this regard had been reached, he stressed.

Dr Choudhry said he had met federal and Punjab ministers for agriculture and discussed agriculture related issues with them but 'my meeting with the President of Pakistan was most rewarding; he realizes the agriculture sector's importance in the national economy and seems committed to its development'.

According to Dr. Choudhry, President General Pervez Musharraf had asked him exactly what measures the government would take for the promotion of conservation agriculture and "I suggested that the programme needed to be backed with the same intensity and commitment that he had shown for the lining of canals.

In my opinion, he should himself take command of the programme for the propagation of conservation agriculture because it lacks high level ownership at this stage."

Asked if there were any concrete proposals for cooperation between Pakistan and New Zealand in this regard, he answered in the negative, but said that the two governments can take up this issue and work out something.

He said that experts of the two countries should be able to evolve a plan for the promotion of agriculture in Pakistan through conservation technologies. Dr Choudhry is also the chairman of the ruling Labour Party's committee for greening issues that covers the entire range of the agriculture sector, including dairy development and breeding of horses and livestock.

He said that New Zealand had done tremendous work in these sectors and ways and means can be found for Pakistan to benefit from expertise available in New Zealand.