University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said the prevalent water and energy crises constituted major threats to agriculture and human development.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, Khan said UAF’s Vision 2030 aimed to address issues pertaining to food security resulting from uninhibited population growth in the country. He said flour availability had been used as a yardstick to measure food security in Pakistan.
Khan said exchange of ideas between agricultural researchers and strategic decision makers could potentially bid well for agricultural productivity, trade and food security.
He said the UAF aspired to develop a comprehensive framework governing agricultural and rural development in an attempt to execute successful agrarian reforms.
The UAF has immense value for a knowledge-based economy as a source of human capital and a repository of cutting edge ideas buttressed by research, Khan added. He said the UAF’s vision 2030 aimed to propel the varsity to the ranks of internationally renowned research universities and cement its position as the country’s premier gateway for agricultural and rural development. In a message to Khan, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif formally endorsed Vision 2030, calling it “a progressive step”. He lauded Khan for putting Vision 2030 together. Sharif praised the UAF for rendering an outstanding contribution to agricultural and rural development. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar expressed confidence in the UAF’s capabilities. He said Vision 2030 articulated a step towards refashioning the agriculture sector as a productive, innovative and sustainable area of activity that would become the bedrock of the country’s economy. Sarwar said the varsity was known the world over for its endeavours.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2014.