TOBA TEK SINGH: The experts at a seminar called for promoting modern trends, including precision agriculture at national level, in order to increase crops productivity and address the challenges of food security in the country.

The seminar on smart agriculture was arranged by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Precision Agriculture and Analytics lab on Tuesday at the Centre for Advanced Studies Auditorium.

University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan presided over the session while Arid University of Agriculture Rawalpindi Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman, University Dalhousie Scientist Dr Ahmad Ali Mallahi and Dr Asif Kamran shared their thoughts on the occasion.

Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said the modern, smart and precision agriculture techniques were the need of the hour to ensure food security of Pakistan. He added that in precision agriculture, every grain of seed, every horsepower of machinery and every man-hour of farm labour counts to remain competitive and sustainable in face of global economic and climatic changes.

He was of the view that due to lack of modern innovative agricultural technologies and smart practices Pakistan was facing stagnation of productivity in various crops.

He maintained that Pakistan could enhance 10 percent volume of wheat crop production by reducing post-harvest losses to attain self-sufficiency.

Professor Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman said precision farming used modern technologies to improve crop quality and profitability.

“It optimises the use of resources. Therefore, this agricultural management system contributes to the development of sustainable agriculture,” Professor Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman added.

Dr Ahmad Ali Mallahi said the industry and academia, through collaboration and joint efforts, could easily develop innovative agronomic practices to overcome food security issues. He added that the agriculture sector could enhance productivity by involving the stakeholders through prototyping and field trials.

Prof Dr Asif Kamran called for use of remote sensing and drone technologies in agriculture, coupled with satellite imaging processes, to estimate the crop yield, that will help take timely trade-related decisions.

He urged all stakeholders to devise a comprehensive plan to fight the challenges at the national level.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2023