Muhammad Saleem

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad has launched an initiative to help local farmers increase wheat production.

The Vice Chancellor of UAF, Dr. Muhammad Sarwar, said that the university faculty is working tirelessly to address real-world agricultural challenges. He said that this campaign will provide both farmers and students with valuable hands-on experience. He said with the help of this campaign, students will try their level best to convince farmers to embrace the latest agricultural practices so they can boost their productivity. Similarly, he said the students will also apprise farmers of the benefits from timely sowing, certified seeds, and the application of balanced fertilizers.

The UAF launched this drive last year, and sensing its positive outcomes, they are repeating the practice this year with a fresh approach. Dr. Sarwar said, “without adopting cutting-edge agricultural technology, we cannot advance our agriculture in the face of climate change.” He noted that UAF, in collaboration with Washington State University, has succeeded in introducing new wheat varieties that align with global productivity standards. Before these varieties, he said the UAF had also introduced new varieties of various crops including sugarcane, soybean, maize, cotton and others to guarantee a stable supply of food.

Shehrayar Ahmed, the public relations officer of the UAF, told Wealthpk that scores of university students visited five divisions including Faisalabad, Lahore, Sahiwal, Gujrat and Gujranwala, where they interacted with farmers. He said that this 13-day wheat campaign helped farmers to voice their practical issues to the students, who then relayed these concerns to their teachers. He said the UAF faculty would work diligently to find solutions to these issues so that farmers can reap the rewards of their hard work.

The students efficiently shared experts’ recommendations and guided farmers on the latest trends and environmental-friendly technology. He said farmers are in dire need of latest and first-hand knowledge regarding agricultural problems so they can achieve good yields. He explained that the campaign was launched in collaboration with the Agriculture Extension Department Punjab, and students from postgraduate and undergraduate programs visited fields. All the students were well-prepared to train farmers how to boost wheat productivity.

All the students have been instructed to communicate with the farming community in the local language so that they can understand and absorb the message, he added. Muhamad Kashif, a student who participated in the campaign, talking to Wealthpk, said that during field visits, they learned that farmers are leaving no stone unturned to meet the food-related requirements of the people. He said that while talking to them, the farmers mentioned that they have been hearing about advancements in the agriculture sector. The farmers are eager to adopt modern agricultural practices; however, they are facing issues related to knowledge, training and access to finance.

He noted that it's laudable that the Punjab government is trying to facilitate development of the farming community by introducing initiatives like the Green Tractor Scheme, Kisan package and other facilities. Such incentives are crucial for the farmers who are battling against climate change and the surging cost of inputs and energy. He said that due to the outreach programs, per acre wheat production in Faisalabad is on the rise, and this year ample stocks of wheat will also be available in the market.

Credit: INP-WealthPk