Pakistan can harness the benefits of agricultural development by putting more resources in making the agricultural credit accessible, and affordable and providing good governance in timely provision of quality inputs, taking care of backward and forward linkages and laying down a platform for innovations, and entrepreneurial activities.”
This was stated by Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, while addressing a seminar on changing mindset and building capacity for innovation and commercialisation organised by Office of Research, Innovations and Commercialisation (ORIC) here at New Senate Hall. He said scientific innovation regarding increase in cropping intensity, best agronomic practices, and intervention of GMOs shorter the duration of wheat and cotton crops that enhanced the production to manifold and caused establishment of new cotton mills, ginning factories, textile mills, flour mills, and many of relevant business.
He said “California US produces a range of agricultural commodities, but we remain in a fashion to grow only five crops as the political economy of Pakistan revolves around sugar industry, flour mills, various cartels and vested interests that dictate the affairs. He urged the government for setting up new cattle and grain markets with excellent administrative control so that the rights of producers and livestock farmers could be protected.” He emphasised the need for making a platform for innovation and commercialisation at national level so that innovations could pave the way for new business plans.
