ISLAMABAD: The government is focusing on implementing smart agricultural policies but climate change remains the biggest challenge so far, Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the third ‘International Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Bio-technology’, Mr Bosan said only collaborative efforts would lead towards a golden era of agricultural development.

All modern techniques should be applied to the agriculture sector while safe use of bio-technology is on the agenda of the government, he added.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research will continue to help to boost sustainable agricultural development in collaboration with all stakeholders.

Through the exchange of our young scientists between partner countries, the country can achieve its goals, Mr Bosan added.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is very keen for the development of agriculture sector. An amount of Rs20 billion has been allocated for the livelihood uplift and betterment of the country’s farmers, he added.

Former chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik said the country was at the forefront in bio-technology research in the 1980s but that edge has been lost.

“Our scientists would have to work hard to implement the new technology-based research results at the farm level. Our farmers would be able get more yield and enhance per capita income only when they use new technology”, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2017