SAU, Turkish institutions explore academic and technical collaboration

HYDERABAD: Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam and Turkish universities and institutions have explored avenues for academic exchange, institutional collaboration, joint research, agriculture, information technology and technical skills development, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in higher education and applied research between Pakistan and Türkiye.

A delegation comprising students and graduates associated with agriculture, business and Information Technology from various Turkish universities visited Sindh Agriculture University on Tuesday under the auspices of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TiKA).

The 10-member delegation, accompanied by supervisors, a translator and other staff, visited various academic and research facilities of the university, including the greenhouse established with TiKA support. The delegation was briefed on the university’s ongoing academic and research activities, national and international technical linkages, projects, degree programmes, and academic and research expertise.

Dean, Faculty of Crop Protection, Prof Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi, said student exchanges and technical interactions between Pakistan and Türkiye could create opportunities for future collaborative projects and joint research. He said a significant number of Pakistani graduates, particularly alumni of Sindh Agriculture University, were pursuing higher education in Türkiye, providing a strong foundation for further academic and institutional linkages between the two countries.

Prof Dr Imran Khatri, Professor and Chairman, Department of Entomology, delivered a detailed lecture on greenhouse technology, highlighting its major systems, applications and significance in protected crop production. He said research at the TiKA-supported greenhouse was focused on developing crop production practices suited to changing climatic conditions and studying crops and production systems beyond those commonly cultivated under the prevailing climate of Sindh.

Dr Aslam Bukero provided practical training on the rearing of biological control agents and their effective use in greenhouse environments. The students were introduced to the role of beneficial organisms in sustainable crop protection and integrated pest management, followed by practical demonstrations at the TiKA-supported greenhouse.

Earlier, SAU Registrar Ghulam Mohiuddin Qureshi welcomed the delegation. The delegation was accompanied by Dr Arfan Ahmed Gillal, Dr Ibrahim Kubar and Dr Sumbul Mureed Mastoi.

The Turkish delegation thanked the university administration for hosting the visit and expressed the hope that such academic exchanges would contribute to strengthening cooperation in higher education, research, technical expertise and institutional linkages. The visit also provided an opportunity to explore further avenues for academic and technical collaboration between Sindh Agriculture University and Turkish institutions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026