Inter Provincial Agricultural Research Coordination Committee Meeting

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) is  committed to inter provincial research coordination to minimize duplication and maximize synergy among the ongoing research projects / programme This was stated by Dr. M.E. Tusneem, Chairman PARC, while presiding over  the first meeting of PARC’s Inter Provincial Agricultural Research Coordination Committee (IPARCC) at PARC (HQs) on March 13. The meeting was attended by representatives of provincial research institutions, agicultural universities, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and PARC Technical Members. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the PARC research agenda and seek provincial agricultural research institutions views and guidance on its priorities.

Chairman, PARC  said that challenges faced by    researchers and to make agricultural  more productive, profitable and  competitive.  He added green revolution led to  quantum jump in agricultural production until 1980s, but no major break through was made in agriculture during the 1990s primarily  due to lack of investment in R & D and market failures in major agricultural commodities.  

Dr. Tusneem noted  that Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock (MINFAL) has set a target of 4-5% for agricultural growth per year upto 2015 to achieve food security, become a net exporter of agricultural commodities and major exporter of fruits as set in Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) and Vision 2030. He said National Agricultural Research System (NARS) needs major reforms as it is facing low investment, fading human resources and outdated research infrastructures. To address these issues PARC has taken several initiatives to introduce reforms in NARS. He informed PARC’s wheat research is focussing global rust initiatives,  interactions to improve national wheat research system in coordination with provincial research system; develop resource conservation technologies in collaboration with CIMMYT, ICARDA, IRRI, IWMI, IFPRI and AVRDC. He further informed that PARC will conduct policy research, research on agricultural growth and poverty nexus, high value chain, value addition, impact assessment and knowledge sharing. He said that PARC would be focussing on research in  vaccine production for bird flu and other diseases, as well as  genetic improvement of animal. He invited the provincial research system to approach PARC for funding research under ALP and RADP if they have innovative research proposals.

Dr. Kausar Abdulla Malik, Member (Food and Agriculture)  Planning Commission gave comprehensive presentation  and informed that agricultural research is being conducted under six ministries at various Federal and provincial research organisations. There is dire need of a mechanism of linkage and coordination between them.

Member (Animal Sciences Division), Dr. Shahana Urooj Kazmi; Member (Social Sciences Division) Dr. Munir Ahmad and Member (Plant Sciences Division) Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad also gave detailed presentations before the coordination committee about its past  achievements and future research plans of their respective divisions.

 USDA Team Visits NARC

A four-member team of USDA Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction headed by Dr. Rao Jason visited NARC on March 11  to collaborate in the field of Biosafety.

The team was briefed by Chairman  PARC on the research activities and achievements of various institutes of the Centre. Director General, NARC    Deputy Director Generals and Directors of various Institutes also attended the meeting.

Later, the USDA team visited Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources, Food Quality and Nutrition Lab, Wheat Wide Crosses Lab and Avian Influenza Lab at NARC and witnessed the research being conducted there.

International Women Day Celebrations

PARC Women's Forum celebrated International Women Day on March 20 at PARC (HQs). Ms. Naheed Akhtar, PSO (IPEP), NARC talked on the status of women in Islam to highlight  the importance of the day.

Farewell to Retired PARC Scientists

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council Scientists' Association (PARSA) arranged a farewell in the honor of PARC scientists  retired during 2007-2008 on March 20 at NARC Auditorium.

Dr. Muhammad Aslam,  Vice President PARSA read out the citations of the retired scientists  including Dr. Abdul Shakoor Khan, Deputy Director General (CSI), NARC; Chaudhry Abdul Hafeez, Director (Coordination), PARC; Dr. M. Shafiq, Director (WRRI), NARC; Mr. Ruhul Amin, PSO (WRRI), NARC; Kazi Munawwar  Ali Khan, Senior Engineer (FMI), NARC; Mr. M. Hashim Laghari, Senior Director (PSD), PARC; Dr. Mohammad Bashir,PSO ( CDRP), NARC; Syed Anwar Masud, Deputy Director (Training Institute), NARC; Dr. Naazar Ali, CSO (CSI), NARC; Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Director General (AZRI), Quetta; Dr. Zahid Hussain, CSO (Water), PARC; Dr. Shafaat Ahmad Khan, PSO (PARC Advisory Cell), NARC; Dr. Waqar Malik, CSO (SSD), PARC; and Dr. Tahira Zafar Mahmood, PSO (Weed Management), NARC.

Later Dr. M.E. Tusneem, Chairman PARC presented PARC shields to the retired scientists and acknowledged their contribution in strengthening National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of PARC.

Powdery mildew resistant pea genotype

Among pea germplasm evaluated/screened under field and green house conditions at IABGR, NARC, Islamabad, 14 genotypes namely, PS99102238, PS9910188, PS810765, PS610324, PS610152, PS010128, PS810240, PS710048, PS810191, CGN3272,

CGN3273, Lifter, Franklin and Fallon were found resistant to powdery mildew. All the resistant genotypes were reconfirmed under high load of inoculum under green house conditions and among these, three genotypes, viz., Fallon, PS 99102238 and PS 010128 were highly resistant, whereas others developed the symptoms of powdery mildew but produced seed with insignificant damage. The seed of all the 14 resistant genotypes have been multiplied and preserved in the genebank for future use by the breeders.

Review of AREF-funded projects

A review of projects funded out of Agricultural Research Endowment Fund (AREF) was conducted by ALP Secretariat in collaboration with the Plant Sciences and Social Sciences Divisions of PARC. The projects under review were:

a. Development of high yielding, disease resistant varieties of groundnut through hybridization and mutation breeding along with nodulation studies for N2 fixation under rainfed conditions.

b. Production of double haploids of wheat by using wheat x maize crosses techniques.

c. Selection of zinc efficient wheat genotypes for balance human nutrition.

d. Utilization of genetic variation in yield response to drought stress for the development of improved wheat germplasm.

e. Comparative advantage and competitiveness of major crops in Pakistan: Price Risk Analysis.

OBITUARY

May Allah rest her soul in eternal peace and give courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss.

Reference Meeting

PARSA arranged a reference meeting at NARC to pay homage to deceased scientists of PARC namely Dr. C. M. Anwar (Ex- Chairman, PARC); Prof. Dr. Abdul Salam Akhtar (Ex- Member, ASD) Prof Dr. Munawwar Ahmed Sial (Ex- Member ASD); Mr. Ashraf Tanvir (Ex- Director, SIU) NARC; Mr. Lal Khan Khokar (Ex- Director, CDRP), NARC; Mrs. Riaz Kausar (Ex- SSO, Fisheries), NARC; Mr. Ahmad Sami Ullah (Ex-SSO, AZRI), Quetta; Mr. Riaz Khalid Siddiqui, (Ex-SSO, Honeybee), NARC and Mr. Anwar Hussain, (Ex-Assistant Director, Admn), NARC. May Allah rest the departed  souls  in peace.

Annual Review and Planning Meeting on Oilseeds

A two-day Annual Review and Research Planning Meeting on Oilseeds was held on March 26-27 at NARC Islamabad. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Member, (Plant Sciences Division) PARC, emphasized the need to improve the productivity of oilseeds in the country and pave the way for self sufficiency in oilseed sector through the National Coordinated Research Program more successfully. He further stressed for result oriented and applicable recommendations.

Dr. Akbar S. Mohmand, National Coordinator, Oilseeds, NARC, in his welcome address gave a brief account of research achievements/developments of Oilseeds Programme, NARC.

Dr. Akhlaq Hussain, Director General, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, Islamabad in his deliberation talked  about the regulatory status for the import of seed of sunflower hybrids.

The meeting comprised four technical sessions during which 18 presentations were made. More than 60 scientists and stakeholders from federal and provincial research institutes, agricultural universities  Agricultural Foundation of Pakistan; Seed Companies Association of Pakistan and farmers participated in this meeting.

During the concluding session 16 recommendations on policy and research developments were finalized. Dr. M. Saleem, Senior Director (Plant Sciences Division) PARC in his concluding remarks lauded the concerted efforts of scientists for improving the oilseed production in the country.

UAF Students visit NARC

A group of 50 students B.Sc (Hons) along with Dr. Farooq Ahmad Khan, Assistant Professor and Mr. Amir Shakeel, Lecturer from Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad visited NARC on March 25. The students were shown various research institutes/labs at Crop Sciences Institute and Institute of Agriculture Biotechnology and Genetic Resources, NARC.

They appreciated the research work being done at NARC and took keen interest to benefit from it.

Wheat Travelling Seminar 2008

ALP Board of Directors Meet at PARC

The 9th meeting of Board of Directors (BOD) of Agricultural Linkages Programme (ALP)  was held on March 26 at PARC HQs.

Dr. M.E Tusneem, Chairman, PARC presided over the meeting. Represenatives of Provincial Additional Chief Secretary, MINFAL, Planning Commission, eminent scientists and PARC members attended the meeting. BOD considered and approved 25 projects recommended by the Technical Advisory Committee of ALP.

Deputy Resident Representative JICA Visits PGRI

Mr. Shinsaku Fukazawa, Deputy Director Resident Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited Plant Genetic Resources Institute (PGRI), NARC, Islamabad on March 14, to discuss the sustainability of JICA-funded project that has terminated in 1997. Dr. Zahoor Ahmed, Deputy Director General, IABGR gave a presentation about financial and technical sustainability. Technical sustainability included gradual increase in number of collections in the genebank, enhanced distribution and evaluation of germplasm, quality research publications and preparation of  germplasm catalogues. The financial sustainability has been achieved through government support and competitive research grants. Mr. Fukazawa showed his entire satisfaction on the scientific achievements and continued financial support by Government of Pakistan for smooth functioning of the genebank and associated laboratories.

Mehfil-e-Milad

On the auspicious occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (May Allah's Grace and Peace be upon Him) PARC Women's Forum arranged a Mehfil-e-Milad at PARC auditorium on March 20.

Hamads and Na’ats were recited. Ahadith and topics like blessings of Quran recitation, Fazilat-e-Durood Seerat/Sunnah of Holy Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah's Grace and Peace be upon Him) and miracles of Holy Prophet were narrated.

The pious event that ended with Durood-o-Salam and Dua was attended by ladies  both from PARC and NARC.

Participations Abroad

Mr. Munawar Raza Kazmi,       SSO (IPEP), NARC: Study visit under the John Dillon Memorial Fellowship Program: Australia: March 3-April 4.   

Dr. Muhammad Fatah-Ullah     Khan, Director (AZRI), Bahawalpur: United Nations     Environment Program Global  Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) Project Steering Committee Meeting (PSC): Sri Lanka: March. 4-5.

Dr. Asghar Ali, SSO (Pulses)    CSI, NARC: South Asian Traveling Workshop on Food Legumes: India: March 3-10.

Dr. Javed Iqbal Mirza and Dr. Atiq-ur-Rehman Rattu SSOs (CDRP), IPEP, NARC: Stem Rust Baseline Survey Workshop: Aleppo, Syria: March 10-11.

Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali,     CSO (IABGR), NARC: Conference on Frontier in Plant Proteome Researc Contribution of Proteomics Technology in Creation of Useful Plants: Tsukuba, Japan: March 10-11.

Dr. Muhammad Aslam, SSO (LRRP), NARC: Seminar on Bio-Fertilizer Production, Quality Control and Test Methods: New Delhi, India: March 26-27.

Dr. Rakhshan Roohi, PSO (WWRI) NARC: Consultation Workshop on Management of Flash Floods Capacity Building and Awareness Raising in the Hindu Kush, Himalayas: Kathmandu, Nepal: March 27-28.

Dr. Bashir Ahmad and Mr.       Arshad Ashraf, SSOs (WRRI) NARC: International Workshop on Cryosphere & Hazards for the Hindu Kush, Himalaya & Tibetan Plateau: Kathmandu, Nepal: March 31- April 2.

VEC on Rice met at PARC

The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) on rice met on March 19 at PARC (HQs), Islamabad. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Member (Plant Sciences Division/Chairman, (VEC) presided over the meeting.

Dr. Qadir Bakhsh Baloch, Agricultural Development Commissioner, Govt. of Pakistan; Dr. Akhlaq Hussain, Director General, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department, (FSC&RD) Islamabad;  Brig. (Rtd.) Iftikhar Ahmad, Managing Director (Punjab Seed Corporation) and scientists from federal and provincial research institutes from all the four provinces and AJK and representatives of private companies attended the meeting. 

Eight research proposals on rice hybrids were presented by various seed companies for evaluation. The research proposal on rice hybrid EMKAY-H401 presented by M/s EMKAY Seeds (Pvt.) Ltd. Lahore, was recommended by the Committee for cultivation. This is the first locally produced rice hybrid strongly adaptable to local conditions.

Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, appreciated the role of private sector for taking interest in the research and development of rice crop and working in collaboration with public sector to enhance rice production in the country.

Pakistan Australia Joint Venture to Improve Dairy Sector

Social Sciences Division of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) organized a seminar on Economic and Policy Constraints Affecting the Development of Small Scale Dairy Farmers in Pakistan on March 19 at PARC, Islamabad. The seminar was aimed to create awareness among the national stakeholders about launching of a joint project between Pakistan and Australian Government. The project is focused on small holder of the dairy industry. It will be linked to the ACIAR Agriculture Sector Linkages Programme (ASPL).

Dr. M. E. Tusneem, Chairman PARC, presided both the inaugural and closing sessions.

Dr. Munir Ahmad, Member, Social Sciences Division, PARC,  presented a comprehensive

Chairman PARC, Project Leader (ACIAR) Chief Executive Officer (L & DDB), Islamabad and Member (CSD), PARC speaking on the Seminar held at PARC (HQs)  on March 19

AZRI Establishes its First ever Agromet Observatory

Realizing the importance of different abiotic factors like temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind and their influence on  sowing, germination, different stages of growth and crop yield along with safe harvesting of the produce, effort was made to record the parameters on a daily basis at the Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI), Bahawalpur.

Chairman PARC, Dr. M.E. Tusneem, during his visit to AZRI, Bahawalpur, appreciated the on-going activity of the Met. Unit and desired an expansion of the facility through Director General, Agro-Met. Centre, Islamabad.

As a result three important new components namely Wind vane, Anemometer and Evaporation Tank was provided to strengthen the existing Met. Unit.

National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council meets at PARC

The second meeting of the National Agriculture Education Accreditation Council (NAEAC) was held at PARC (HQs) on March 31. Dr. M.E. Tusneem, Chairman/PARC/  NAEAC expressed his pleasure over the completion of Council mem-bership from all the sectors as mentioned in Higher Education Commission (HEC) Ordinance. NAEAC has representation of experts from academia, research institutions, leading industries R&D institutions in public and private sector.

Dr. M.E. Tusneem asserted that, the primary objective of the Accre-ditation Council is to improve the standard and quality of education of the agriculture disciplines.

Dec. 07, Jan & Feb-08