ISLAMABAD: The United States has transferred latest wheat sowing technology to Pakistan, aimed at increasing healthy wheat production.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the US-Pakistan Wheat Productivity Enhancement Project (WPEP) handed over these sowing planters to various research institutions and universities at a ceremony jointly organised by the USDA, International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and several Pakistani agriculture institutions and universities.
Initially, these planters will be utilised on pilot projects in these institutions and would be replicated to transfer the technology to farmers to enhance their crop productivity.
This technology will replace the traditional hand-sowing crop system and antiquated machinery, currently utilised in Pakistan.
The USDA-sponsored project has imported research-grade wheat planters for provincial and university partners to increase Pakistan’s wheat productivity.
Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS and R) Secretary Seerat Asghar said, “Although population of the country is growing fast, we have been successful in catering to the increasing food needs due to research conducted in the agriculture field.”
He said, “The wheat sowing technology should have been transferred three decades ago; however, it is never too late, adding that the planters will particularly help small farmers to enhance their crop productivity.”
“The planters will be handed over to the local manufacturers to replicate the technology to ensure that farmers take benefit of this technology,” he said.
PARC Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad said that the WPEP project achieved the goal of increased productivity by introducing disease-resistant wheat varieties, building research capacity, improving disease surveillance systems, developing seed distribution systems and modernising national crop development programmes through upgrading infrastructure and equipment, he said.
Pakistan is fully prepared to cope with the challenges of UG99 crop disease, as scientists have developed new crop varieties to cater to the increasing food requirements, he said, adding that the Pak-US collaboration in agriculture field resulted in establishment of several agriculture universities and institutions in the country.
USDA Agriculture Counsellor in Pakistan Clay Hamilton said that the transfer of planters to Pakistan is a symbol of long collaboration between the two countries.
Internews
