Islamabad:(PR&P PARC) The federal minister for National Food Security and Research, Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik, visited National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad on September 28, 2023, to preside over a one-day workshop on Climate Resilient High Yielding and Quality Rice Development. During his address, Dr. Kauser Abdulla emphasized the significance of research and development in the agricultural sector, stating that it is the country's only hope for overcoming the economic crisis. Dr. Kauser urged young scientists and researchers to make use of technology, particularly in the field of genomics and Biotechnology. He emphasized the importance of adapting crops that are resilient to the changing climate and resistant to extreme temperatures. He also mentioned that efforts are being made to commercialize agricultural research in order to benefit the end users, especially the farmers. He also applauded active collaboration of PARC with private seed sector. Dr. Kauser commended Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) for developing rice varieties that are successfully competing with expensive imported hybrid seeds.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman PARC, expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests, government and private sector representatives, media personnel, and all workshop participants for their participation to make the event successful. Dr. Ali reiterated the focus on benefiting farmers by maximizing their profits through increased crop yields. He emphasized that NIGAB's newly developed climate resilient rice varieties will reduce not only farmers' reliance on expensive imported hybrid seeds but will also ensure sustainable production. While explaining the attributes of these newly developed varieties, Dr. Ali explained that these varieties possess yield potential double to yield potential of existing varieties, which is only 40 to 50 mounds per acre. He further narrated that not only these varieties result in 50% higher yield than other fine varieties but also generate 85 - 120 % more in head rice recovery and 15 - 20 % more in total milled rice recovery. More importantly Dr. Ali illustrated that beside high yield these new varieties are insect/pest and disease resistant and no/less use of pesticide might lower farmers’ cost of production. Also, in the backdrop of water shortage and scarcity these varieties will revolutionize the rice economy under less acreage with more or same level of production.

Chairman PARC at the end thanked government functionaries, policy makers, private sector stakeholders and researchers for their valuable time and ensured provincial institutions, academia and even private sector for utilization of state-of-the art facilities available at NARC like, next generation sequencing, speed breeding, and digital screening for insect, pest and disease resistance tests.  

At the end of the workshop, all the participants visited the Rice fields at NIGAB to witness the development stages of different rice varieties. All the participants appreciated PARC scientists for their valuable contribution to the national economy and thanked Chairman PARC for welcoming extension of services to the NARS scientists.