UAF joins hands with France to improve agriculture production

The University of Agriculture (UAF) has joined hands with France to improve agricultural production of Pakistan. French Ambassador Daniel Jouanneau on Monday addressed an international symposium on date palms as a chief guest by the Institute of Horticulture Sciences, UAF at new senate hall. Vice Chancellor UAF, Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan presided over the symposium.
He said since 1996, yield per acre of dates production in Pakistan has not increased but decreased where the total dates production in the world has increased 166 percent. Dr Jean-Christophe, Head of Date Palm Programme, FIRD (French Institute for Research and Development), Dr Mark Hoddle from University of California and Assistant Professor, UAF, Jaffar also spoke on the occasion.
The ambassador said that Pakistan was blessed with a tropical climate that is ideal for producing dates. He said that Pakistan has enjoyed 4th rank in terms of date palm production and has placed its ranking in the top ten producers of dates in the world. He said that out of 300 varieties of dates produced in Pakistan, many are in high demand in European and Asian countries. The branded dates of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which are leading the world belong to same categories.
Dr Khan briefed the audience about the genetic diversity of date palm in which he said Asia was the major producer of the dates while Africa was on number second. He said that Pakistan was being ranked at number six in the list of dates' producers. He said that the major producers of the dates include Tunisia, Egypt, Iran Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Algeria. He stressed the needed to increase production of dates in Pakistan saying that the dates production was being ignored adding that with a focus on Balochistan with regard to dates' production, the country could earn millions of rupees. He briefed the audience about the dates' production with a case study of Oman.
Dr Mark Hoddle threw light on Red Palm Weevil, the world's most palm pest and has killed a million of date palms across the globe including Pakistan. He informed the audience about the management strategies. He said that the Pakistan has a knowledge gap that must be filled and the farmers must be aware of latest agriculture technologies. Dr Jean-Christophe informed the audience about the working and performance of FIRD. He said that the institute conducts integrative studies on date palm.