CSISA, PAKISTAN: Workshop on Hub Communication Platform at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad

One day workshop on Hub Communication Platform was conducted on 05-10-2011 at Biotechnology Research Institute, AARI under the auspices of CSISA, Pakistan. A resource person Mrs. Neelam Chaudhary was originally assigned to conduct the workshop but due to delay in her visa processing she could not join the workshop so a resource person from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Mr. Salman Afsar was registered to replace her. Thirty four persons including 9 women participated the workshop. Participants came across the wide spectrum-UAF, Research, extension, private sector, farmer representative NGO, Farmer Organization and farmers.

The workshop proceedings started with recitation from Holy Quran. Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan Country Coordinator, CSISA, Pakistan presented the welcome address explaining the objectives of the workshop and CSISA, Pakistan activities carried on. Dr. Noor-ul-Islam Director General AARI formally inaugurated the workshop and gave his valuable remarks about the presence of all the concerned stakeholders and usefulness of the workshop for the researchers as well. He thanked CSISA, Pakistan to take the lead for conducting such a workshop beneficial for researchers, agriculture extensionists and farmers. The directors Cotton, Oilseed, Sugarcane, Vegetable, Agronomy, Soil Chemistry and Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology Research Institutes also joined this important workshop.

Welcoming the chief guest and participants, Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan highlighted the purpose and scope of the workshop and importance of acquiring the learning of modern communication skills and tools for bringing a change in the attitude of farming community. He drew the attention to the skewed food supply and demand equation and to the further versioning agriculture situations which demand use of latest information in research and extension to deliver the information needs by farmers.

Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan also explained that CSISA project was launched by CIMMYT and IRRI to promote conservation agriculture practices and at the same time eradication of poverty, hunger and making the agriculture easy, cheap and simple. Now was a tea break.

After word Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan gave introduction and surface view of CKB in his presentation. He told that CIMMYT and IRRI have placed several knowledge sites and CKB is one of them. Online usage of different options available on CKB especially crop doctors were demonstrated to the participants.

Hafiz Naveed Ramzan of CSISA, Pakistan after briefing the HCP gave the online demo of HCP and its modules - weather pin, pest monitor and adoption survey. He also briefed the participants about the importance and simple procedure for free registration to enjoy downloads options especially aWhere Desktop and library a maps.

Mr. Salman Afsar, the resource person apprised the participants about the working of GPS. He explained how satellites are being used for the progress and welfare of the people in the world. The coordinates obtained with the help of GPS are very useful for site specific crop management operations in agriculture. The workshop proceedings were held up for lunch break.

In another presentation the resource person explained the important features about use of aWhere desktop. He explained how it can be used for making maps, graphs and for analysis in addition to other options. The participants were engaged in downloading and installation of aWhere Desktop. He also carried out a practical exercise by the participants regarding using of aWhere desktop making the session interactive and participatory. At this occasion Dr. Aqil Khan shared a quick view of Hub Characterization Report of Eastern UP Hub with the participants as an example.

Dr. Javed Akhtar, Director presided over the certificate distribution session. He gave valuable remarks about such a useful workshop for all stakeholders of agriculture sector. He also explained the usefulness of IT tools in research and dissemination of results. He appreciated efforts of CSISA, Pakistan for such new areas.