HYDERABAD: Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Tuesday for the establishment of the UN institution’s resource centre at the varsity to promote national and international interventions in respect of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

FAO’s country head Rebekah Bell visited the SAU Tandojam and met varsity Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Marri.

Highlighting the role of agriculture technology in rural transformation, the VC said SAU was working with stakeholders, especially farmers, in that regard.

He said the varsity would provide technical support in seed and breed improvement, farm mechanization, food processing, natural resource management and water resource management.

He said SAU’s services could be provided for research, development and technology transfer at the grass-root level.

SAU would support digitalization of agriculture for quality check and monitoring and real facts of field, he said, adding that the SAU technical advisory committee would provide technical input for policy and planning for betterment of the agriculture sector of Sindh.

He said SAU would support youth through a talent-hunt programme and develop research priority area for agriculture, climate change, food security and livestock management.

The FAO representative said the UN agency was working for agriculture, food security, climate change, fisheries, poverty reduction and sustainable agriculture.

She said the role of public and private organizations, especially the SAU Tandojam, in agriculture sector could not be ignored.

She said universities could transform rural economy by sharing knowledge, conducting research and providing technologies. She said SAU could benefit through project development, research studies for promotion and enhancement of sustainable development goals and for promotion of agriculture innovation in Pakistan.

She highlighted FAO interventions for global project digitalization of agriculture and food security.

The two sides signed the MoU for establishment of UNFAO Resource Centre at SAU to promote national and international interventions in connection with SDGs, sharing of knowledge, establishment of depository library, link to FAO website, joining AGORA network, visiting technical lectures and support and networking activities.

Joint studies on climate smart agriculture, research, land and water resource management, water conservation, horticulture, livestock, forestry, agro-economics, value chain and environment and national resource management would also be conducted.

She praised efforts of the SAU for building knowledge stakeholders in water, food security, agriculture and livestock sector and providing support to FAO interventions in Sindh.

She said the UNFAO Resource Centre would be helpful for stakeholders especially for agrarian youth to build their capacity in sustainable development.

Prof Dr Mohammad Ismail Kumbhar discussed importance of the resource centre, saying that innovation and value addition was badly needed for sustainable agriculture and value chain.

Dr Altaf Siyal, SAU’s director, said the GCF programme would lead to strong partnership, adoption of GIS practices at the grass-root level.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2021