'Saving post-harvest losses to help in achieving food autarky'

About 25 to 45 percent post-harvest losses occur in food and horticultural produce due to non-availability of food processing and post-harvest technology in the country. "If we can overcome these losses, there would be no extra requirement of water and soil resources to meet the challenges of food security."
This was stated by University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice-Chancellor Dr Bashir Ahmad while addressing food scientists and technologists' 'grand annual function' at Iqbal Auditorium here on Wednesday.
He said that upgradation of the Institute of Food Sciences & Technology into National Institute of Food Sciences & Technology (Nifsat) was a landmark to achieve excellence in the field of food sciences in Pakistan.
He lauded the efforts of Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool, Dr Kausar Abdullah and Planning Commission Chairman Dr Muhammad Akram for the establishment of the first National Institute of Food Sciences and Technology.
Dr Faqir Muhammad Anjum, D-G Nifsat, highlighted main features of Nifsat NIFSAT and said that the Department of Food Science and Technology was upgraded in 2003 as IFST and, within four years it had been upgraded as Nifsat NIFSAT.
He said that six sections and one food technology transfer centre were the components of this national institute, and added that processing plants were being set up with the help of France to reduce post-harvest losses and to increase the awareness of processing technology in students and other stakeholders.
He said that a state-of-the-art classroom was being constructed at a cost of Rs 20 million by Nestle Pakistan. This classroom would be well equipped and just like the classrooms of any international university classrooms. He added that Rs 57 million would be spent on civil work, whereas Rs 84 million would be spent on labs and equipment.
Dr Jehangir Khan Sial, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, former chairman of Department of Food Sciences and Technology Muhammad Shafiq Choudhary, and president of Pakistan Food Scientists and Technologists Association Wazir Hussain Shah also spoke on the occasion.
Students presented cultural performances, skits and national songs. Chief guest Dr Bashir Ahmad distributed shields, prizes and certificates to guests, eminent scientists and students. A large number of students attended the ceremony.