.Social Sciences
What is
the role of social sciences in agricultural research?
Ans. Social Sciences Institute (SSI), located at NARC, is part of
the field research wing of Social Sciences Division of PARC. Being the prime
institution of agricultural research, the main focus of the Council is to
undertake and promote research in the areas that do not fall under the priority
research programmes of other components of the NARS. SSI was established in July
1990 as an important component of NARC Master Research Plan with a specific
mandate to ensure the active participation of multi-disciplinary teams of
scientists from social, biological, natural resources and farm machinery
disciplines to conduct priority research for the NARS. SSI operates through
several research programs involving sister research institutions, development,
agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders. SSI undertakes research on different
priority issues of national and regional importance in the disciplines of
agricultural social sciences; provides research feed-back to the biological
scientists working on different crops and livestock; develops and strengthens
linkages with research and extension for technology transfer and extend
consultancy/advisory services to the biological scientists; information
dissemination and human resource development through trainings, workshops,
seminars and conferences.
What type
of assistance social sciences can provide to farmers?
Ans. Generally, the Social Sciences Institute, NARC conducts
research that is useful for the development of agricultural policies at national
level, which ultimately filters down to the overall agricultural development of
the farming community.
Which are
the major technologies commercialized by PARC and their level of usage by
farmers?
Ans. There are a number of technologies commercialized by PARC.
SSI's mandate is to evaluate these technologies from adoption perspective.
Which are
the major areas of collaboration between PARC and private sector?
Ans. The SSI has established functional linkages with the national
and international research and development institutions as well as private
sector. Key research areas include diagnostic and policy studies; baseline
surveys; production economics; marketing of crops; marketing of livestock;
agricultural trade (WTO); economics of alternative technologies; cost of
production; field plot techniques; impact evaluation; adoption and diffusion of
technologies; forecasting models and statistical bulletins
What is
the overall economic impact of research on agricultural production and
productivity improvement?
Ans. One rupee invested in Pakistan's agricultural research yields
ten rupees in return. Secondly, the sustained invention of new varieties e.g in
1970-71 the average wheat yield in Pakistan was 1.1 tonnes/hectare which is now
2.6 tonnes/hectare.
Resource Person
|
Mr. Muhammad Azam Niazi (SSO) |
[Last updated: October 06, 2006]
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