While welcoming 2012, the University has turned 50. In the golden jubilee year of 2011, we went through a series of national as well as international events, a mix of academic and social flavors. The events included exhibitions, alumni meet, seminars, workshops, symposia, conferences, sports and cultural shows, kissan convention, rabi and kharif festivals, archives display, fun fairs, and interactions with millions of spectators. More than 200 foreign delegates visited UAF and showed solidarity and commitment. We mapped strategies to overcome issues facing agriculture and food security for next fifty years. I wish to express my gratitude to the stakeholders, agricultural scientists, students, donors, staff and others for making the golden jubilee celebrations a success.
In the coming years, we will emphasize management of knowledge that is being produced faster than ever and translation of knowledge into goods and services. The university envisions increasing interventions in the areas of Biotechnology and Precision Agriculture vis-à-vis the emerging challenges of Climate Change.
In developing world including Pakistan, the aggregate average yields are only 20% of the developed world. Beyond increasing productivity, there is need for significant reduction in postharvest wastage. The past 50 years have seen food booms because of better varieties, more and more taming of water, agro-chemicals and mechanization because of rapid growth of knowledge. The future lies with successful integration of genetically modified crops.
University’s role to empower the agriculture sector for socio-economic development must have community building schemes and pilot projects in place. Small holders and pastoral communities are the most affected and disadvantaged segments of society. We need to work for better dry lands agriculture and range management for them.
In my opinion, agriculture will remain stressed during 2012 due to many reasons. Despite constraints, I am optimistic and see the ‘glass half full’. We are richly endowed by natural resource and hard working farming communities. I am sure we shall defeat the odds in keeping this country food secure while providing industrial raw materials and jobs for better life. Together, we shall defeat the ‘Malthusian’.
Happy New Year
Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan
Vice Chancellor
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-Pakistan
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