HYDERABAD, Sept 2: A committee would be constituted to establish strong links between agricultural education, research and extension. Provincial Agriculture Secretary Nazar Hussain Mahar and Vice-Chancellor of the Tandojam Sindh Agriculture University Dr Basheer Ahmed Sheikh decided at a meeting held at the campus on Thursday, to set up the committee consisting of director-generals of various wings of the agriculture department and deans of the agriculture university.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the agriculture department and deans of the university.

According to a spokesman for the directorate of agriculture information, the committee would identify areas for effective coordination among various institutions working for the development of agriculture with the objective of providing maximum assistance and guidance to farmers of the province.

It was decided that implementation of the committee’s recommendations would be monitored on daily basis.

The meeting nominated two persons to check the steps on daily basis. The meeting decided to share all projects, information, data, programmes and events so that collaborated initiatives would be taken for agricultural development.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mahar laid stress on providing training to the field officers and staff so that they could educate farmers about advanced farming techniques.

He said that the university would assist the agriculture department in capacity building, change of curriculum of agriculture training institutes, development of master trainers, third party monitoring of projects and certified seed production.

Dr Sheikh highlighted key areas of priority including enhancement of production, conservation of water, provision of quality inputs including pesticides and fertilizers, development of arid and bio-saline agriculture, agriculture potential in coastal areas and post harvest operations in the light of the World Trade Organization.