Speakers for strengthening agriculture extension system through ICT

Speakers at an international workshop on Monday called for strengthening agricultural extension system through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), resulting in increasing productivity and reducing poverty. The international workshop on "ICT in extension and e-Pak" organised by Institute of Agri Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).
Addressing on the occasion, UAF Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, said the effective agri content, through text message, radio and other communication tools, is imperative to raise the adoption of latest agricultural practices among farming community. He lauded Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for initiating ICT Programme worth Rs 150 million that will prove hallmark on the horizon of agriculture. The UAF was playing its due role in the programme.
Director General Punjab Agri Extension Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali said that the Punjab government is taking all measures to increase production through ICT. He said that as many as one million farmers from 23,000 villages across the province are being connected at the agricultural SMS services. Besides, database of 135 market committees are being maintained and given access to farming through websites so that they can get the information about rates of different commodities at their home or workplace etc. He said that foolproof system of monitoring the extension workers had been kicked off through android phones. He said the Punjab government had kicked off a project worth 150 million aimed at increasing productivity with the usage of ICT. He said that as many as 6 million hectares of land is facing the salinity and water logging.
Dr Mark Andrew Bell from University of California Davis, USA said that ICT is the powerful tool in extension. He urged the extension workers to implement the ICT for the dissemination of information based on easy to access and implement. He said that if the message is not interesting, it will fail to bear results. He said that in the United States, 90 percent of extension work is being done by private sector while remaining 10 percent work is being carried out by public sector.
Institute of Agri Extension and Rural Development Director Professor Dr Tanvir Ali said the extension work was initiated in 1914 in US. Now, it has completed its cent year. He said the low per acre production was the challenge. The usage of ICT will help in boosting up production. He said that UAF in collaboration with the Punjab government has set up websites Zaraibaithak; and fertilizer model to provide experts' suggestions to the farming community about their agricultural issues. Director External Linkages Professor Dr Ashfaq Ahmad said the UAF in collaboration with the Punjab government was bringing early warning system for the farming community. He said that the UAF is also working on remote sensing and climate changes mitigation. Director Agricultural Information Punjab Muhammad Rafique Akhtar and Dr Babar Shahbaz also spoke on the occasion.