The high-level meeting of competitive agriculture Research Technical Committee (RTC) was held at Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) presided over by Vice Chancellor and Chairman Dr Mujeebuddin Sahrai.
The meeting was attended by Nazar Hussain Mahar, Senior Advisor, World Bank and by ex-Secretary, Dr Atta Hussain Soomro, Director General, Agriculture Research Sindh, Dr Noor-ul-Haq, a Consultant, Sindh Agri Growth Project, Irshad Ahmed Ansari, Project Director, Sindh Agri Growth Project, Hidayatullah Chhajro Director General Agriculture Extension, Ali Akbar Soomro, Director General Livestock, Dr Nazeer Hussain Kalhoro, PD Livestock Project, Syed Mehmood Nawaz Shah and Nabi Bux Sathio, Progressive Farmers, Ghulam Qasim Jiskani and Mian Saleem, Presidents of Date palm and Chillies Associations, Dr Ghulam Nabi Kalwer, Dr Ali Muhammad Khushik, Professor Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Agriculture experts and consultants.
During the meeting, experts and Committee members discussed on the development of agriculture, vegetables, fruits and crops in different suggested areas of Sindh. Dr Mujeebuddin Sahrai said, “SAU experts would develop Sindh agriculture development strategy report, and a seminar would be organised on each commodity crop which includes onion, dates, chillies, and rice production technology.” Manuals shall be developed by SAU on each commodity crop which includes onion, dates and chillies.
He said that Project Proposals will be invited from experts, Progressive Farmers and well-reputed organisation for research and development of agriculture, He also advised for formation of different committees.
Nazar Hussain Mahar and Irshad Ahmed Ansari, briefed team about the Sindh Agriculture Growth Project (SAGP) and also informed that with the help of World Bank, the project has been launched with an estimated cost of Rs 170 million for research component and to improve the productivity and market access of small and medium producers in onion, dates, chillies, and rice products. He said that the project has the capacity to transfer the agriculture system of Sindh.
Nazar Mahar said that the competitive agriculture research development fund would be managed with the collaborative support of the scientists of Sindh Agriculture University. Tandojam and steering committee of the project will be framed which will be headed by the Vice Chancellor to boost up the research component in agriculture of the province.
