PARC will benefit from IRRI, CIMMYT (News item from Pakistan Observer)

Please click link below for the news item
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=145765

Farmer’s field day

CSISA, Pakistan and a local fertilizer giant, Engro Fertilizers Ltd. held a field day for farmers to demonstrate the utility of bed planting in enhancing yield and saving water on 8^th March, 2012, at Chak No. 296 RB, Faisalabad. The farmer, Raja Asghar Ali, had planted 8 acres wheat on beds using CSISA planter. The crop is heading and showing a comparative edge of bed planting in water saving. The farmer himself was appreciative of bed planting technique. The field day provided the opportunities to the participants to see the bed planted and flat sown wheat themselves and learn from the farmer the comparative difference. Dr. M. Aqil Khan explained to the participants CSISA goals and objectives and the advantages of bed planting.
Engro had put a fertilizer trial to show the role of NPK in raising cop yield. Senior Engro official from Lahore was also present. The field day was chaired by the Dean Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Director Cotton Research Institute jointly. For many a farmers bed planting and associated technology was a first time experience and they were generally receptive. 110 persons from research, extension, private sector and farming community participated.

Dr. M . Aqil Khan addressing 

Dean Agriculture, UAF

Director Cotton addressing 

Engro representative

Participants

Field visit

CSISA, Pakistan helps PARC establish Pakistan Cereal Knowledge Bank

Cereal knowledge banks established by IRRI and CIMMYT are popular sites for a variety of people connected with agriculture. These were primarily developed to serve farmers with latest production technology so their economic lot and national food security are improved and have, overtimes, diversified into rich repositories of various facets of agricultural knowledge. In view of their popularity IRRI helped many countries establish their national knowledge banks. Pakistan had yet not one of its own so Dr. Noel Magor and David Shires asked Dr. M. Aqil Khan, CSISA, Pakistan, Coordinator, to help establish cereal knowledge bank in Pakistan during latter’s visit to IRRI in October, 2011. Dr. Khan talked to various persons in Pakistan Agricultural Research Council for the purpose. The chairman was particularly enthused by the idea. He held a meeting with his Scientific Information staff and Dr. Khan and, as a result, Pakistan Cereal Knowledge Bank came into being on 15th February, 2012. IRRI further supported the establishment of CKB by holding a training workshop on CKB held on 14th-15th March, 2012 at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad. Dr. David Shires, IRRI Consultant on knowledge management traveled to Pakistan to conduct the workshop. People from various agricultural fields from all over Pakistan attended the workshop. This helped clarify the purpose and goal of the CKB and its needed mechanism. The participants appreciated the institution of CKB in unison, the Chairman, PARC was particularly forthcoming. In his closing remarks he dilated upon the importance of CKB and identified several other areas for inclusion in the bank and securing local and international support.

                                                     Participants of workshop

                        Chairman PARC (centre), Dr. M. Aqil Khan (left) and David Shires

                                                     Group photo of participants

CSISA, Pakistan celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD)

CSISA, Pakistan in partnership with Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, the principal agricultural research site in Pakistan and employing growing number of female staff in office and field positions, celebrated IWD on 8th March, 2012. Director General Agriculture (Research), AARI and a local women leader were in chair. The highlight of the day was a speech competition on women role in nation building. Inaugurating the day the DGA (Res.) Dr. Nur ul Islam, welcomed the CSISA efforts in organizing the IWD which is a first function of its kind in the 60 years history of Institute. DGA spoke of the role of the women in changing the society and promotion of national development. He recounted how AARI has benefited from the newly inducted female staff particularly in strengthening laboratory work. Female workers have proved responsible, diligent and persistent in their work. Naturally the institutional activities are upswing. The female participants one after the other highlighted the women contribution in family life, social, economic and political spheres. Landmark contribution of women in history and shaping the present day world were recounted. It was shown that a determined and dedicated woman can excel in the man dominated world if she is guided by courage, fearless aspirations and determination. A panel of three judges judged the speeches and CSISA, Pakistan presented a shield to the winner, Miss Seher Jamil, Research Officer (Biotechnology). Dr. Abid Mehmod, Director Cotton who represented the DGA after he left invited the women to effectively participate in national progress. He showed that women are facing no discrimination. In fact they enjoy privileged status in Pakistani society; therefore, there is a wide field open for Pakistani women if they shed the historical and cultural taboos. Seventy female workers attended the function. At the end, Dr. M. Aqil Khan, CSISA, Pakistan, thanked the participant for their participation, enthusiasm and bold presentation of their cause.

                                                    DGA presiding the function

                                                  Dr. M. Aqil Khan welcoming

                                                   DG, AARI addressing

                                                   Stage secretary

                                                      Participants of IWD

                                                     Shield presentation