RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The governing board on agriculture of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on Wednesday decided to exchange new technologies, research findings and germ plasm to strengthen agriculture sector.

“The governing board agreed to exchange new technologies related to livestock, germ plasm and other sectors to ensure strengthening of agriculture and food security in the region,” said a senior official of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council.

He said that the board held a meeting here at PARC, which was presided over by PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmed and Director Information, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Afghanistan, Gh Rabani Haqiqatpal.

The meeting said that SAARC countries needed to launch joint programmes in the field of agriculture to cope with various challenges. It also stressed the need of experimentation and sharing new technologies as well as research findings to meet the food needs.

The meeting decided that if any country introduced a technology or developed a new germ plasm, it must be experimented in other countries to extend its advantages to the member states.

Moreover, the official said that the governing board expressed concerns over the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) proposal regarding shifting of National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) to establish a housing colony at the site.

He said that the PARC Chairman briefed the meeting on the performance of scientists in controlling wheat rust and new innovations in the field of livestock and agriculture.

Member Director, Fisheries, BARC, Bangladesh, Dr Md Kabir Ikramul Haque; Program Director, ICS, Ministry of Agriculture Bhutan; Deputy Minister Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives, Mohamed Shareef; Chief Communication, Ministry of Agriculture Nepal, IP Rijal; Director, HORDI, Sri Lanka, Dr Memal Fonseka; Director SAC, Dhaka, SM Bokthiar; Senior Program Specialist (NRM), SAC Dhaka, Dr Tayan Raj Gurung and Chairman PARC, Dr Iftikhar Ahmad attended the meeting.