LAHORE: The participants of a meeting were of the view that outdated threshers, combine harvesters and shortage of skilled operators were resulting in losing 15 percent of the wheat the country and a strategy was devised to limit the losses during the harvesting phase to ensure self-sufficiency and food security.

Engineering Development Board member Senator Nauman Wazir chaired the meeting on the standardization of agricultural implements held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), on Thursday. UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan and others spoke.

Mr Wazir said that they had imported 10 percent of the required wheat this year. If we improve the efficiency of harvesters, it will not only ensure an increase in production but also save billions of rupees in foreign exchange.

He said that standards were being set up for performance of threshers and harvesters so that losses could be minimised by preventing substandard threshers.

He said that at the UAF, in collaboration with Washington State University, cultivated 30 new varieties of wheat resistant to climate which have the potential to increase the yield from 32 maund per acre to 60 maund.

He said that the students and staff of the UAF would provide guidance on harvesters at the doorsteps of farmers in March and April.

He said competitions will be held from April 15 about the thrashers and harvesters in Rahim Yar Khan and it was necessary to conduct short courses related to harvester drivers.

VC Mr Khan said that 22,000 students visited the farmers across the province to make them aware of modern trends in wheat sowing.

He said an awareness campaign on harvesters was essential and it could embarrass the dream of food security.

He said 30 new varieties of wheat were cultivated in UAF in collaboration with Washington State University that has the potential to increase the average 60 mounds.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2022