PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra here Tuesday inaugurated the 7th Farmers Convention at Pakistan Academy for Rural Development.
In his address, the Governor said the farmers’ convention will help in the promotion of scientific farming in the country, saying that new scientific research and application of modern technologies in agriculture sector are behind the success of developed economies.
Pakistan Academy For Rural Development Peshawar is striving hard to create awareness among the farmers’ community in the country regarding modern agro research and scientific techniques through interaction with agro scientists and experts and sharing of experiences with other farmers who have come from every nook and corner of the country.
Director General of the Academy Nighat Mehroz delivered the welcome speech on the occasion.
The convention will continue for three days from April 26 to 28 in which more than 150 male and female farmers from the four provinces, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir and FATA are participating.
The governor said that Agriculture sector contributed upto 21 percent to Pakistan’s GDP and about 45 percent of the people were being benefitted from the sector which makes it as the epicenter of all our socio-economic activities adding that unfortunately, we have been lagging behind other countries in per acre yield.
“We have to shift our focus from traditional ways to modern means of agriculture if we are to enhance our production and exports.” he said.
The governor further said climate changes are posing a threat to the entire world and we will have to take necessary steps to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
In the end, the governor offered all possible support to the farmers for resolving their problems with support of the federal government.
Director General Nighat Mehroz while highlighting the role of Academy said that the institution is conglomerate of Provincial Services Academy, National Institute of Management and Pakistan Academy for Rural Development.
The institute has conducted 1350 training courses of officers from provincial and Federal Services have trained about 35000 officers. In addition to it, PARD organizes annual Farmers conventions for the promotion of awareness among framers in the use of modern agricultural techniques.
Speeches were also delivered by farmers from Punjab, Sindh, KP, Baluchistan and Kashmir. They demanded water policy for every province, announce crop insurance policy and extend interest free micro credit to the small farmers.
They also demanded both the provincial and federal government to organize training for small farmers at district level so that maximum number of farmers could be benefitted from modern agricultural techniques.
The governor on the occasion also planted a sapling in the academy campus and visited different stalls organized by government and non government organizations and appreciated their efforts for the promotion of agriculture.
Source: APP
