HYDERABAD: Sindh Agri­culture University (SAU), Tandojam, in collaboration with private sector organisations, has agreed to develop farmer-centric models aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains, improving crop quality, and increasing farmers’ incomes across the province.

The initiative envisions active farmer participation to enhance production and market value of fruits, vegetables and major crops in Sindh. A high-level meeting was held on Saturday, in the university’s committee room, bringing together senior representatives from public, private, and development sectors, to discuss strategic collaboration and long-term agricultural development.

The meeting discussed formulation of a comprehensive and structured framework involving SAU and its private sector partners to promote sustainable agricultural practices and develop efficient, market-oriented value chains for key crops.

VC Prof Dr Altaf Siyal said that SAU has long been producing skilled graduates in agriculture and allied sciences, and such partnerships would provide practical exposure to students while strengthening the province’s agricultural systems. He appreciated efforts for promoting farmer-centered development models and expressed optimism about their long-term impact.

He said that strengthening value chains was essential to reduce post-harvest losses, improve food availability, and ensure better returns for farmers. By integrating research, extension services, and private sector innovation, he said, a resilient and sustainable agricultural system could be developed to cope with climate challenges. He stressed the need to train both students and farmers in climate-smart agriculture, digital farming tools, and efficient resource management.

Dr Rashid Bajwa briefed the participants about SAU’s partnership for advancing crop value chain initiatives. He shared targeted programmes focusing on cotton and wheat value chains being planned in Sindh to enhance productivity, improve market linkages, and create better income opportunities for farmers.

He stated that SAU students would actively participate in Farmer and Student Field School programmes, to be established at demonstration farms in selected districts. Drawing from successful initiatives in Punjab, he noted that similar projects in Sindh would cover the entire agricultural cycle — from farm planning and input optimisation to post-harvest management and quality seed production — with a strong emphasis on climate-smart practices.

Dr Mohammad Ismail Kumbhar said the proposed model would create a strong field-based learning environment for students while supporting young farming families. He said such integrated approaches were vital to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical farming.

Ghulam Mustafa Jamro participated in the discussion and emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts for rural development and agricultural sustainability.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2026