FAISALABAD: Linkages between academia and industry are vital to develop knowledge-based economy, says University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Asif Tanveer.

Chairing a meeting of the Department of Entomology, of the UAF, he said it’s prerequisite to ensure adoption of modern trends and coordination of all stakeholders including industry, academia, research and farming community is imperative to make the agriculture a profitable sector and ensue the food security.

He said the university was taking all possible measures to develop the demand- driven research work especially to address the problems of the agriculture sector.

Talking about the agriculture sector, he said this segment in the country was under the grip of challenges including low productivity, non-certified seed, post- harvest losses, lack of mechanisation and climate change for which we have to take measures to ensure food security. He said agriculture was the backbone of the economy which was contributing 19 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product.

Entomology department chairman Dr Sohail Ahmad said we have to jack up the per acre agriculture productivity to meet demand of ever increasing population. He stressed the need for learning from other nations’ experiences. Without effective research and development (R&D) activities, no nation can achieve success, he added.

He said we have to train the farming community about the latest trends in the agriculture sector.

Former chairman of the entomology department, Dr Jalal Arif said Integrated Pest Management approved by the National Assembly provides safe pesticides as itis an ecosystem-based strategy focusing on long-term prevention of pests or their damage with different techniques including biological control,modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant variety.

Rashid Ahmad, Executive Director, of Crop Life Pakistan Association said they developed and distributed crop protection and biotech products including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and seed. He said they advocated and promoted the responsible use of safe and environmental-friendly pesticides.

He said that they are deeply concerned about the cotton, maize and rice crop losses in certain parts of Punjab. He said they fully understand the challenges faced by hardworking farmers and remain committed to serve them.He saidthat an exceptional shift in climatic conditions at a critical phase (pollination) of the crop has impacted the yields across the province.

Published in Dawn, Jannuary 6th, 2021