HYDERABAD, Dec 9: Detailed discussions were held to evolve ways and means for improving agriculture education and the working of agriculture research institutes at a meeting held at the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tando Jam, on Saturday.

The basic purpose of the multi-organizational meeting was to devise a coordinated plan for improvement of agriculture sector under the World Bank (WB)’s economic reforms programme.

The proposed WB programme includes initiatives to strengthen links between agriculture extension, research work and farmers and their overall linkages with agricultural education institutions.

The economic reforms programme envisages an elaborate plan to introduce best agricultural practices to farmers through electronic and print media.

Under the programme, students and researchers from the SAU, colleges and research institutes will be assigned field work on specific crops.

In view of the deteriorating soil condition, an investigative survey will be carried out to determine the extent of exhaustion of micronutrients by December 2002 with the objective of initiating measures for improvement and conservation of soil and its fertility.

The meeting discussed the possibility of giving the SAU students fieldwork assignments of some duration before entitlement to getting degree. It was also proposed that the new entrants in the agriculture department may be made to go through apprenticeship for certain period of time before the final order of appointment or contract.

It was emphasised that pre-job and on-the-job trainings should be made mandatory to develop better human resources in agriculture sector.

Another meeting in this regard will be held in a week to give a final shape to the recommendations to be included in the proposed programme.

The meeting was attended by the vice chancellor of the SAU, Dr Bashir Ahmed Chandio, Sindh secretary agriculture, livestock and fisheries, Mr Abdur Rasheed Memon, and director generals of agriculture extension, agriculture research, engineering and water management and livestock wings.

EID ADVANCE: The vice chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, has announced that the university employees would be paid half of their pay for December in advance before 15th of the month.