October 14, 2006	Saturday	Ramazan 20, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: Speakers at a seminar here on Friday stressed that guidelines for the Agricultural Extension Policy be developed to transform the traditional agricultural extension services into a viable force capable of meeting new demands of knowledge in action.

The seminar on “Modernising National Agricultural Extension System” had been organised by the social sciences division of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).

PARC Chairman Dr M.E. Tusneem said the transfer of technology was a major issue throughout the world. Agricultural extension was taking on new dimension because of the fast expanding global communication network, he added.

Keeping in view the present situation, there is a need for reforming the national extension system in Pakistan using information technology, Dr Tusneem observed.

The function of agriculture extension services consisting of information dissemination and the training of farmers were critical for the development of agricultural sector and fighting against hunger and poverty, he added.

Dr M. Kalim Qamar, senior officer (research extension and training division), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, apprised the participants of the extension systems in sustainable agriculture and rural development of food security needs, developing strategies and approaches, and addressing extension management.