CSISA, Pakistan contributes to World Wheat Book II

Limagrain, Europe’s largest seed company, ten years after its first volume of World Wheat Book has published its II volume (available from Lavoisier Publishing, 11-rue Lavoisier F-75384 Paris cedex 08, France) which carries the wheat breeding improvement history in various countries. Dr. M. Aqil Khan of CSISA, Pakistan contributed a chapter on Pakistan – Wheat Improvement in Pakistan. It summarizes the wheat improvement in the country tracing back to preindependence British era and summes up various development phases in wheat improvement to its present point. Wheat culture in Indo-Pak subcontinent, before improvement efforts, comprised of a mix of various seed types (species and types) and colors. Under the market demand for white grains for bread the colonial British government undertook efforts to promote white wheat for English market. This was the beginning of wheat improvement Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. These efforts entailed survey of local wheats, establishing agriculture research and education institutions. After partition in 1947, dwindling food supplies drew in Ford Foundation support and ultimately CIMMYT involvement under Norman A. Borlaug. Pakistan ushered into green revolution which made significant impact on food availability in sixties and seventies of last century. The green revolution is short of its conclusions and social impact. Majority of small farmers fail to enjoy full benefit of green revolution. National yields are low and once again country faces uncertain food situation in the face of rapidly rising population and shrinking agricultural resources.

Agriculture as a whole needs review to set new priorities and wheat improvement work needs strengthening and regulation to meet the needs of rapidly increasing population. Wheat is occupying more area than a healthy agriculture can afford. This imbalance should be corrected by improving yield and reducing area. This requires strong action policy base.

CA gets official support

A meeting was held in the office of Director General Agriculture Department, Extension wing, Lahore on 10^th August, 2011. It was attended by many key functionaries including DG Research, Director Wheat, Director Agronomy and Director Soil Fertility. Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan CSISA, Pakistan staff also attended the meeting on the invitation of DG Agri. Extension. Agenda included consideration of relay wheat planting in cotton and preparation of a brochure on the subject for farmer use. The relay wheat gained recognition by Agriculture Department for its role in timely wheat planting and cutting cost of crop cultivation. This development would be conducive in acceleration and promotion of timely wheat planting. It may be recalled that almost 45 % wheat in Pak-Punjab is planted after cotton which often stays in field up to the end of December thus delaying wheat planting. Delay planting of wheat is one reason of low yield of wheat. CSISA, Pakistan is already working with Cotton Research Institute for relay wheat planting and 0-til cotton planting. Hopefully, this initiative would result in increased food availability and farm families’ prosperity.