Research for Agricultural Development Program (RADP)

PROJECT PROFILE:

Rational of Project

• There is overwhelming evidence around the world that - highest return to investment in agriculture is in agriculture research.

• Pakistan has yet to realize these returns as agriculture research remained grossly under invested.

• Government commitment to up-grade PARC research system to address priority research areas/new initiatives, thus approval of program for five years.

Scope of the Project

• Priority research themes developed in consultation with NARS/stake-holders

• Program Executive Committee (PEC) in PARC to approve high-tech research projects under 22 themes (more than 120 activities/areas)

• Technical Divisions of PARC to implement research plans

• Up gradation of research labs, green houses and other facilities.

• Strengthening of national and international research collaboration.

• Human resource development

Project Objectives

• To address the current and emerging needs of science based-agriculture development, food security, poverty reduction, economic efficiency & export competitiveness.

• To serve as a mechanism for timely response to emerging research issues (Pest/disease epidemics, nutrient deficiency, climate change)

• Develop technologies for maximizing productivity (per unit Land, labour, water, capital etc)

• Move from research output to innovations as products and services for small holder

Project Components

Financial Phasing and Release:

The release of funds against PC-I cost by year 2009-10 has been hardly 37.3%. The release against allocation during last two financial years was 40%, which affected the research activities & some projects have to be closed.

SALIENT RESEARCH OUTPUTS

Plant Sciences Division:

• Screening of wheat and rice germplasm

• Identified 6 rice and 10 wheat genotypes highly salt tolerance and salt tolerance gene inducted

• Through gene transformation & re-germination process 4-5 salt & stress tolerant wheat & Rice genotypes will be available

• 36 promising lines of wheat excellent against stem rust identified

• Lines moved from F1-F6, within next two years high yield & stress tolerance variety will be available

• Sunflower 04 promising hybrids

• Canola 08 promising hybrids

• Tomato 130 hybrids evaluated, 04 hybrids are promising competing with international hybrids

• 395 accessions of Brassica oilseed tested are aphids 02 resistant

• DNA finger printing and profiling of 31 cultivars

• 254 Sugarcane germplasm tested for flowering

• 46 lines flowered with variable intensity to help in sugar cane breeding

• Four hybrids of Mandarin selected to develop seedless mandarin hybrid

• 14 sorgham Sudan hybrids combinations developed to generate 05 hybrids yielding 68-77 ton/ha/cut

• Risk analysis of rice, mango, citrus, dates documented with analysis of thresh hold levels, pest maps/distribution pattern for effective control

• Mass production of predaters of white fly, aphids, mealybug and thrips - biological control

• Control of mycotoxine in maize and groundnut through mechanical drying/solarization

• NARC developed machines giving good results

• Pesticide residue in cotton belt – fruits, vegetables, milk, water etc -showed residues trace to above permissible limits- health implications

• Machines for picking & pre cooling of Mangoes and milking of buffaloes

• Pilot project - water conservation pot tech. (completed) – not beneficial.

• Fabrication of Bio pesticide and Organic/Bio fertilizer plants installed and testing in operation

• Kitchen gardening for IDPs of Swat-Training to generate income

Natural Resources Division:

• Soil/environment pollutants studied in areas where city sludge / waste water used

• Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr found above permissible limit possing serious health hazard

• Technology, bio- remediation being developed, 60 bacterial strains being tested

• 60 years data collected for Modeling climate change

• Standard techniques for royal jelly, pollen,propolis and beeswax collection

• Honey quality for exports – lab for testing presence of pesticides and anti biotic etc.

• Training of honey farmers for Bee-keeping in Northern areas and other parts of country

• Plant Nutrition Management in Northern Areas-lab being established

• Chemical & biological reclamation of salt affected soils in D.I. Khan

• Black cumin domestication in NA’s

Animal Sciences Division:

• Stair-step heifer development – reduction of puberty age from 36 to 28 months

• Training of farmers

• Feed formulation & disease diagnosis for trout fish

• Diagnosis and control of microbial infection – carps cultured in fish farms

• Improving fertility in buffaloes & goat for more mutton & milk

• FMD and Avian Influenza viruses and development of vaccines

• Heat synchronization in buffaloes for improved fertility

Social Sciences Division:

• Horticultural crops, poultry and dairy value chains characterized for vertical coordination

• Politics of sugar economy studies with weaker/stronger players

• Research strategies for agricultural growth & poverty reduction

• Food consumption pattern and diversity

• Assessment of harvest and post harvest losses – fruits.

• 47 students enrolled the Ph. D and 72 M. Phil – product to out Nov. 2011 and 2010 cost per Ph. D Rs. 0.5 million

• Capacity building of more than 80 policy makers, educationists, researchers

Research Projects/Activities and Progress

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