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RESEARCH BY COMMODITY
(Compiled as a Farmers' guide)Please select a crop from the drop down menu.
RESEARCH BY SCIENTIFIC DIVISIONS
The research activities of PARC are grouped by the following three technical divisions
(For detailed description of research undertaken by Research Institutes under the Divisions are available here ) :
Crop Sciences has been entrusted the major task of research and development activities related to broader areas of Crop Production, Plant Protection, and Horticulture. The focus of research work in these particular areas was to bring self-sufficiency in the major food commodities; import substitution through enhanced local production, value addition and post-harvest management of international standard and adoption of resource conservation technologies. In order to achieve the above goals, priority research areas were identified including maintenance of genetic diversity and germplasm improvement; variety development; standardization of production technology package for sustainable crop production; integrated pest management; agricultural mechanization; and post harvest management.
The above activities were handled through in-house and in-country research establishments of PARC, i.e. Crop Sciences Institute; Horticultural Research Institute; Institute for Agriculture Biotechnology and Genetic Resources; Farm Machinery Institute, Institute of Plant and Environment Protection; Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre, Karachi; National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari; Countrywide Cooperative Research Programs on various crop commodities and MoUs with national/international research organizations and PSDP funded development projects. Research on emerging issues of national importance were also conducted through the funding from competitive grant of Agriculture Linkages Program (ALP), Ministry of Science and Technology, and other scientific institutions.
Genetic diversity for field and horticultural crops was maintained. About 32700 accession/lines from indigenous and exotic sources were acquired, screened, evaluated and distributed among the breeders for improvement in the commercially grown varieties. Six new varieties of oilseed, rice, and wheat were recommended for release by VEC and approval of FSC. Farm Machinery Research Institute developed rice thresher and mobile seed processing unit. This rice thresher has been commercialized through agreement signed with the private sector leading to production and sale of over 100 units. Large scale IPM package was demonstrated against fruit flies in mango orchards. IPM awareness and management technologies were given to cotton farmers of Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan. Two high-tech grain quality testing laboratories have been established to meet the WTO regimes and SPS requirements.
Mass multiplication techniques through tissue culture for rootstock of stone fruit "GF-677" were standardized and plants were produced and tested in fields. Strawberry culture was promoted by maintaining its nursery under shed. Technology for off-season onion production through sets was standardized and improved. Weed control in onion and garlic was studied and herbicide use was found effective and economical. Seed potato production in plains by rouging was demonstrated at farmers' fields.
The Natural Resources has been focusing on enhancement of agricultural productivity through best management of the natural resources of land, water, rangelands, forests, honeybees. The sector addresses the issues related to agriculture in the arid and mountain environments.
The knowledge and innovative technologies generated as a result of research endeavours made towards increasing the land fertility with balanced application of fertilizers, use of bio-fertilizer developed by NARC, proper management and utilization of scarce water resources and improving the productivity of saline and waterlogged areas will substantively enhance agricultural production. Development and dissemination of honeybee management technologies have turned Pakistan into a honey exporting country. High yielding, disease resistant and drought-tolerant crop varieties have been selected for arid and cold environments of Balochistan and Northern Areas. Promising forage species have been identified for different agro-ecological zones and agro-forestry models have been developed for rehabilitation of degraded mountain areas. Dissemination of technology packages for trout farming and medicinal plants and distribution of improved horticultural varieties developed for upland areas will provide additional income generating opportunities for the poor farmers of mountainous region.
Research on animal sciences has always been an important portfolio of PARC. The objective of PARC research is improvement of production potential of animal genetic resources available in the country. The research is addressing areas like Animal Health, Animal Nutrition, Animal Reproduction, Dairy Technology, Breeding of Small & Large Ruminants and Aquaculture & Fisheries. Livestock & fisheries research in PARC was carried out at Animal Sciences Institute (NARC) Islamabad, Arid Zone Research Centre, Quetta and Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre Karachi. Coordinated programmes on large and small ruminant breeding were executed in collaboration with the livestock departments of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Baluchistan and AJK.
Animal Health conducted research on estimation of warble fly, infestation in Sargodha and Peshawar divisions; role of Infectious Bronchitis Virus, Infectious Bursal Disease, Eimeriosis and Avian Influenza Virus in poultry and studies on control of Brucellosis and Haemorrhagic septicaemia in buffaloes. In Animal Nutrition, nutritive quality of silages prepared from maize, sorghum and millet fodders has been compared in sheep; preliminary preparations have been made for digestibility trials of multi-nutrient blocks of different composition; effect of early weaning diet with different energy levels in growth performance of buffalo calves have been studied; effect of probiotics (protexin) and enzymes (Rovabio) on broiler's performance are being investigated and 20 tonnes of mineral mixture and 1090 feed blocks have been produced and sold to livestock farmers. Achievements in Animal Reproduction research include completion of studies on effect of holding transporting time in ice water on quality of cryopreserved semen and subsequent fertility in buffaloes; comparative studies on different capacitating agents for buffalo sperms; effect of mineral supplementation on reproductive functions of buffaloes and production & sale of 6000 doses of high quality semen from buffalo, Friesian, Jersey and Sahiwal bulls to livestock breeders. In Dairy Technology research, successful trials were conducted to prepare whey beverage using orange and pine-apple flavours and to prepare white cheese using brine solution; quality of cheese prepared by the use of Paneer booti with or without lactic acid solution was compared and successful attempts were made to improve the quality of cottage cheese through the addition of gelatin to plant rennet in cheese making. Achievements in Fisheries & Aquaculture research include completion of studies on biology and culture performance of big head carps in pond system and successful introduction of American channel catfish in Pakistan.
Under the National Coordinated Research Programs on Small Ruminant Breeding, mutton producing ability of Balkhi sheep and wool quality of rambouillet crossbreed and Kajli sheep are being studied at NARC; a nucleus flock of Beetal goats is being established at LRRI, Bahadarnagar; performance of Dera Din Panah goats is under study at Rakh Khairewala; a diagnostic survey of small ruminant production in Sindh has been conducted; 30 rams of rambouillet breed free from blue tongue disease have been distributed to farmers by the Jabba Sheep Farm, Mansehra and growth performance of Poonchi sheep has been studied at AJK unit of the coordinated program.
Under the National Coordinated Research Program on Large Ruminant Breeding, the Friesian cattle herds maintained at Harichand (NW FP) and Quetta (Balochistan) and Jersey herds maintained at Harichand are being regularly recorded for various traits of production. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Economic Opportunity Survey (EOS) were carried out at Islamabad and Lahore under the IAEA project on integrated approach for improving small scale market oriented dairy systems in Pakistan.
Through the conduct of empirical research in the arena of social sciences and dissemination of agricultural research findings, the Social Sciences helps in bridging the gap among the policy makers, planners, research scientists, extensionists, growers, NGOs and civil society. Likewise, the socioeconomic research plays a key role in linking crop and livestock improvement and resource management research into real life farming systems; in analyzing how well new innovations meet farmers needs; and identifying and helping to resolve constraints to technology adoption. The SSD operates through seven Technology Transfer Institutes housed in the heart of provincial agricultural research institutes, AJK, and Northern Areas, and the Social Sciences Institute located at NARC.
In the year 2003-04, the Division has carried out forty-four empirical research studies on key diverse issues identified by the stakeholders. The findings of all such studies will be documented in the form of eight research reports and sent to all relevant institutions and individuals. In the area of Technology Transfer, a series of seminars, workshops, field days, exhibitions, and training programs were organized in each province as well as AJK and Northern Areas. The extensive use of print media was made to purvey the scientific information to the growers and extension agents. Forty-one brochures illustrating production and protection technological packages in local languages were published and distributed. The PARC Technology Transfer effort fully involves the provincial extension systems, NGOs and other relevant institutions.
The SSD has also begun research on issues involved in Gender and Development (GAD), Trade Liberalization (WTO), Poverty Alleviation, Food Security, and Environment Conservation. Twenty-eight WTO seminars were organized at provincial and district levels for creating awareness among the stakeholders on the impact of globalization on agro-based economy of Pakistan wherein more than 2400 stakeholders representing diverse groups of policy makers, scientists, extension workers, progressive growers and representatives of chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture participated. Three comprehensive booklets in English, Urdu, and Sindhi languages were published containing details of various Agreements signed in the Uruguay Round and working of the WTO. Agribusiness Development is another key area where the SSD provided a lead role in commercialization of farm technologies evolved by the PARC and NARC scientists. Nineteen PARC-developed technologies were commercialized. Besides these accomplishments, eight MoU/agreements were inked with the collaboration of private and corporate sectors to commercialize PARC-Technologies/Processes.
FARM MACHINERY
PARC has developed, designed and modified a variety of agricultural machinery. For this purpose technology has been transferred to 28 private sector engineering companies. The machines so far produced and in operation include Reaper Windrowers (10000); Groundnut Diggers (600); Groundnut Threshers (100); Paddy Threshers (20) and Sunflower Threshers (30).
A "Rice Transplanter" has been designed, developed and introduced by PARC scientists to suit local socio-economic and agro-technological conditions. It is being manufactured by Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC), Taxila on commercial scale and has given satisfactory performance in rice fields of Punjab and Sindh.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Non availability of disease- and virus-free seed potato in Pakistan had been draining out foreign exchange for seed imports. With tissue culture and biotechnology, Pakistan has nearly achieved self-sufficiency in seed potato by increasing its yield three folds in 1997. Annual seed potato production has reached upto 1000 tonnes. Tissue culture technique has also been introduced in banana and date palm.
Work on the development of transgenic ‘Basmati’ rice variety has also been initiated by Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, NARC.
Microbial biotechnology has been used for bio-fertilizer production for chickpea, groundnut and other legume crops. Its annual production is more than 50,000 bags. PARC has developed bio-fertilizer ‘Bioazote’ which is being marketed by M/s. Engro Chemicals, Pakistan Ltd.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been successfully undertaken in cotton, rice, vegetables in Multan, Gujranwala, Larkana and Taxila areas.
Work on seabuckthorn - a miracle plant has opened up new vistas of controlling landslide and erosion thus alleviating sedimentation of dams.
TECHNOLOGIES TRANSFERRED
PARC has signed more than 30 contracts with private sector firms for commercialization of many new technologies in seed, farm machinery, vaccines and livestock feed production areas over the past 15 years. Twenty-eight engineering companies in the private sector have purchased production rights for the agricultural machinery, developed by PARC.
PARC has signed two agreements; one with International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) to initiate collaborative research on Root Zone Salinity Management using Skimming Wells and Pressurized Irrigation, and the other with National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) of UNDP to accelerate the pace of technology transfer through community based efforts.
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION
PARC established a national agricultural research information system comprising a network of 36 agricultural and related subjects libraries. PARC had introduced CD-ROM technology for dissemination of research information in Pakistan in 1980s. Directorate of Scientific Information, NARC, is using important international databases viz., AGRIS, AGRICOLA, CAB, ASFA for providing references for review of literature. Databases containing information on Pakistan agriculture have been locally developed. By now, more than 48000 requesters have been provided with 2.3(+) million references for their research endeavours in different areas. Facilities of E-mail and Internet are also being utilized. Being the National Liaison Office of FAO’s system AGRIS research information is being shared with more than 150 countries.
PARC web site has been established and Home Pages containing vital information about the organization have been developed. It counted more than 80,000 hits from all over the world.
PARC has published more than 100,000 copies of scientific publications during the past 15 years including periodical publications.
The Audio Visual Communication facility of PARC is passing on research results to farmers effectively.
The Technology Transfer Institute regularly holds field days, exhibitions, fairs, colloquias, disease and pest control and promotional campaigns for agro based industry. About 200 audio and 80 video programmes have been produced and broadcasted through electronic media.
It uses print and electronic media to dish out the required information to the end users with the objective to observe the impact and effectiveness of different means of technology transfer.
Manpower development programme of PARC trained 362 Ph.D., 170 M.Sc. and sponsored about 1100 international visits/seminars/conferences etc.
The Training Institute at NARC has conducted about 380 training courses with more than 6500 trainees from federal as well as provincial institutions.
An MoU between the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi and PARC has been signed. With this instrument of cooperation a joint postgraduate degree programme with emphasis on Ph.D has been initiated.
To coordinate, organize and execute this programme, the Training Institute has been declared as Research Graduate School and the facilities of the Institute shall be used for the purpose of postgraduate teaching. Similarly the laboratory facilities and outreach areas of NARC and allied institutions of PARC have been declared as adjunct campus of the University.
PARC CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM
Contributions to national system include, inter alia; funding of research projects of national interest; funding and implementation of coordinated research programmes; planning and coordination of research monitoring, review and evaluation; training for agricultural scientists; coordination with provincial researrch Institutes; collection and supply of germplasm; variety evaluation; material support (lab. equipment, vehicles, computers, etc.) lab. equipment maintenance and services; agricultural economics research units; sponsoring for participation in overseas meetings; information services, databases and supply of literature; linkages with international research centres; publications; national awards and medals and holding of conferences and seminars for promotion of agricultural research.
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