ISLAMABAD: The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has entered into an agreement with Sargodha University (SU) to help enhance the latter’s institutional capacity in seed sector in line with the amended Seed Act, 1976 and Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, 2016.

The SU has become the first public-sector varsity to have signed an agreement with the FAO.

The two sides expressed their mutual interests in conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, strengthening agricultural research programmes in the development of modern seed technology, climate-smart agriculture practices, bio-fortified food crop varieties, and improved technologies for minimising postharvest losses of food crops.

According to the agreement, FAO and the university will initiate certain capacity development activities, including training programmes for small-to-medium-scale farmers, agribusiness and entrepreneurs and development of a technology delivery mechanism and standard operating procedures between the university and the private sector.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2018