Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar on February 23, 2023 said that the PAEC will continue to play an active role in the field of agricultural research.
The Atomic Energy Commission through agricultural research has introduced 132 varieties that are not only resistant to agricultural diseases and high yielding but also adaptable to the challenges of climate change, Dr Ali Raza said while addressing Farmers’ Day as a chief guest at Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) in Tando Jam.
The Farmers’ Day program was organized by Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) Tando Jam and was attended by PAEC’s senior officers, Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University, Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri, Director NIA Mehboob Ali Siyal, Grower leader Sayed Nadeem Shah Jamote, agri scientists and large number of growers and peasants.
Dr Ali Raza urged the growers to remain in coordination with NIA to boost agricultural production by adopting research-based cultivation of different crops. He said that nature has provided everything within the earth that can fulfill human needs and we need to make use of it.
With the coordinated efforts of the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and the growers, we can achieve the goals of food security, Dr Ali Raza said, adding that PAEC was focusing on the research in field of agriculture and cancer treatment and 19 hospitals were available to accomplish the task. He said that not only police and other security institutions but other factors including availability of water and food are essential for ensuring national security and the farmers also play an important role in that regard.
Declaring growers an integral part for the national security, Dr Ali Raza Anwar said farming community were discharging responsibilities to grow crops that eventually provide food requirements of the nation.
PAEC chairman praised the efforts of the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) in the field research in agriculture sector and called upon all stake holders to keep coordination with each other to achieve shared goals of food security
He also praised the growers for sharing their experiences of utilization of the different seeds introduced by NIA and said with more research Pakistan will soon become self-sufficient country in the field of agriculture. Director of NIA Dr. Mehboob Ali Syal said that Nuclear Institute of Agriculture had introduced seeds of different crops that give maximum yield of various agricultural commodities. He said NIA was established in 1963 and was inaugurated by then Foreign Minister Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto. This institute is also analyzing fertilizer, soil and water samples, it also introduces new seeds so that maximum yield can be achieved with minimum water usage, Dr Siyal added.
Source: IBP