The Endowment Fund of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad has approved 12 new research projects meant for agricultural development and the welfare of general public.

The Board of Directors (BoD) meeting of the Fund was chaired by University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ashraf while Endowment Fund Executive Director Dr Mahmood A. Randhawa presented the agenda before the House.

Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that lack of availability of quality seed, pesticide, poor value addition, climate changes, inadequate farm machinery, academia-industry linkages and non-adoption of modern trends are sabotaging the process of agricultural uplift. He said that around 90 percent of farming community consists of small farmers who cannot afford cost-intensive machinery. Therefore, engineers should produce low cost machinery with reverse engineering. He said value addition from which we can earn heavy foreign exchange, is negligible in our agriculture trade. He said that UAF scientists should increase their research work and come up with tangible results to fight the challenges. He said that the university was making serious efforts to ensure quality education and research work at par with international standards. He said that UAF was eyeing on the international rankings like Times ranking to find their space in the global recognized educational institutions. He said the academia - industry strengthened ties would help raise income of people, and way of living and to meet the challenges of the modern era. Dr Mahmood A Randhawa said that it is the need of the hour to pace up the efforts of researchers on the real issues of the common man. He said that the food security, malnutrition, climate changes and others were one of major concerns. He said that Endowment Fund was providing funds to the researchers to carry out their valuable research work for the benefit of the public.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019