CA training of female agriculture workers

Thirty seven female research workers of Ayub Agricultural Research Institutes (AARI), Faisalabad participated an exclusive all female training of CA conducted by CSISA, Pakistan on 3^rd November, 2011. Madam Dr. Ramooza, formerly Administrative Officer and Residential tutor, University of Western Australia, Perth, chaired the meeting. The participants came from different areas – breeding, agronomy, entomology, pathology, soil science and food technology. Dr. M. Aqil Khan gave a presentation on factors contributing to climate change, population dynamics, deteriorating food supply and demand equation and the measures needed to combat their ill effect and add efficiency to the factors of production. Rising population and resource exploitation has severely dented the natural resource base used by humanity to produce crops and animals. Per capita land availability in Pakistan has come down from 0.42 ha per person in 1960 to 0.13 ha per person in 2010. Water supply has similarly reduced from over 5000 cubic meter per person per year to 1200 cubic meter per person per year. Therefore, the country is in a tight position agriculturally. Dr. Khan showed how CA can alleviate these problems. He showed the effect of laser land leveling, 0-til, bed planting and DSR in timely planting of crops, reducing cost of crop production, adding efficiency and increasing crop and system production and productivity. The participants appreciated the CSISA efforts in holding this all female event and enlightening participants on a subject which is yet to be included in AARI activities. They further suggested to continue these fora and showed interest to participate field activities.

Dr. M. Aqil Khan addressing the participants

Female participants of CA training