Livestock sector demands further improvement

July 06, 2013

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad Jatt at a consultative meeting with University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha discussed various steps to further improve the livestock sector of the province and resolved to work together for the socio-economic development of the country.
The meeting also mulled over short and long-term strategies with a focus on Punjab government's prophylactic measures against deadly diseases like foot and mouth disease, HS, PPR in sheep and goats, etc. Both the Special Assistant to the CM and the Vice-Chancellor agreed to work on a proposal to produce large-scale vaccines in the country through private sector investment to ensure 100 per cent vaccination of livestock against deadly diseases.
The other areas came under discussion included breed improvement, use of molecular techniques for selection of progeny-tested bulls to increase productivity of local breeds and capacity building of field veterinarians through training and transfer of technology to these professionals for the benefit of farming community. Arshad Jatt desired that the university should establish a biogas resource centre and model bio-gas tube wells and energy generation units on Ravi Campus Pattoki. He assured the Vice-Chancellor that the Punjab government will fully support the development needs of the UVAS.
He also appreciated the role of the university in producing professionals, conducting need-based field-oriented research and providing extension services for the socio-economic development of the country. The Vice-Chancellor assured the CM's special assistant that the UVAS will fully assist the initiatives of the Livestock and Dairy Development Department and the government of the Punjab for the development of the livestock and allied sectors of the country.
Speaking about the importance of livestock sector, Arshad Jatt said that livestock sector plays a major role in rural economy and over all the socio-economic development of the country. He said that this sector is highly important in supplementing family income and generating employment opportunities in rural areas especially among the landless labourers, small and marginal farmers and women, so the need is to fully exploit the potential of this sector for the benefit of farming community, consequently contributing to the national development. Later, Arshad Jatt visited various laboratories and departments of the university.

Source: http://www.brecorder.com

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New fishing season begins amid fears of rough sea

July 04, 2013

New fishing season-2013-14 on Wednesday began in the province prematurely, amid fears over the unabated hunting hits the marine life. The Fishermen Co-operative Society (FCS) organised a fishermen gathering at Karachi Fish Harbour to celebrate the opening of fishing season after offering fateha, collectively. The FCS directors along with fishermen and boat owners participated at the ceremony.
Officials of Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) told Business Recorder that "The KFHA has started issuance of crew cards to deep-sea voyaging fishermen". They said the fishermen also now likely to turn up to the KFHA for receiving their crew cards from Thursday (today).
Normally, the annual ban on fishing stays for two months including June and July, the FCS said, adding that the Chief Minister Sindh ended the restriction on the request of society chairman Abdul Saeed Khan Baloch and its directors keeping in view the fishermen's financial problems. However, there are fears of rough sea in July may scale back the fishermen's deep-sea hunting, besides the over-fishing poses a serious threats to marine life within the country's seawaters.
The government through a notification on Tuesday announced to end annual fishing ban to let the fishermen resume their hunting in the country's maritime limits and beyond. The fishing season now began in July for the first time in history, according to fishermen, instead of August. The fisheries sources said the ban lift is largely politically motivated.
"It is actually a ban season hunting which the government has allowed but is illegal as per the ordinance," sources said, adding the sea needs at least two months fishing halt every year. The hostile sea condition with huge waves and gusty winds will be a test for the fishermen wanting to sail off the coast to hunt, sources said, adding there area fears the rough sea may hit fishing vessels as such incidents had happened in the past.
"Sindh Fisheries Dept vide Notification No 5(4) DS (Fish)/L&F/2012 dated 2 July 2013 withdrawn ban imposed on shrimps with effect from 1 to 31 July 2013," officials cited the government's notification. According to Marine Fisheries Department, the ban is aimed to ensure smooth breeding of shrimp and fresh water fish species, which is believed to take place during June and July every year, in seawaters and rivers. The ban started to restrict all voyagers from June 1 as Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) to ensure the ban to remain till July 31. However, officials now said the fishing vessels will be allowed to go deep sea.

Source: http://www.brecorder.com

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Strip-till systems can benefit corn

Justin Davey

Tillage practices are varied for farms today, depending on the farmer's vision for the land, but strip-till systems can benefit corn by combining many of the best aspects of no-till and conventional tillage systems, according to a report from DuPont Pioneer. The advantages of strip-till are generally most pronounced for corn following corn, where strip-till can help improve seedbed uniformity and reduce plant-to-plant variability compared to no-till.

"Strip tillage encourages more favorable soil temperature, moisture and aeration conditions for germinating seeds and seedling plants," says Pioneer's Jerry Harrington. "This can translate to improved crop establishment and early season performance. Strip-till also offers the opportunity to place fertilizers directly into the root zone, away from crop residues that could otherwise intercept or immobilize nutrients," he says.

The report continues to assert that strip-till provides benefits over conventional tillage practices in the areas of conservation and efficiency. "By leaving the interrow untilled, crop residues are retained on the soil surface providing increased erosion resistance and organic inputs," it says. Strip-till can also reduce field passes and input costs compared to conventional tillage.

Tips for successful strip-till

It's important to consider field selection, tillage timing, and strip placement when implementing strip till into your operation. According to the report, "Guidance systems and strip-till units with parallel linkage help ensure accurate seed placement and consistent depth control. It may take a season or two to become skilled at staying on the strips—so give it time and stick with it.

Source: http://www.agriculture.com

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Sun-flower, corn and soyabean modern varieties for Farmer

July 03, 2013

Federal Minister for Food Security and Research Alhaj Sikandar Hayat Bosan has said that Pakistan is self-sufficient in food, cotton, sugar, however we have to spend precious foreign exchange of billions of rupees on the import of edible oil. We should evolve modern varieties of edible seeds of sun-flower, corn, soyabean, Jojoba, rapeseed, Cassamba etc to save Rs 200 billion.
Bosan said that research-based technical knowledge related to agriculture and agricultural technologies must reach to the farmers at their doorstep and it should not be kept in shelves to meet the challenges of food autarky. Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday he said that mostly technical and scientific knowledge remained in shelves that should be reached at farmers doors step to help increase their crop production and thus improve their livelihoods. Bosan said that researchers/scientists should identify sustainable agricultural technologies and effectively translating for transfer to end-users. He stressed the need for developing a mechanism for accessible information for extension workers and farmers. Collective efforts and wisdom needed to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture sector and to ensure food security in the country.
Federal Minister appreciated the role of international agencies, especially FAO, USDA, CIMMYT, ICARDA, ICIMOD and other donors for holding such events in Pakistan to share technical and scientific knowledge and experience by experts and financial support for development of agriculture sector in the country. He urged upon the progressive farmers, researchers and agricultural scientists to reduce the knowledge gap between researchers and enhancing the capacity of the extension workers; during the process, it will identify the most compelling findings from researchers' work, prepare a package, and then present and disseminate these findings in the form that would be accessible and understandable to farmers.

Source: http://www.brecorder.com

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Promoting environmental-friendly agriculture practices

July 03, 2013

Speakers at an international seminar called for promoting latest environmental-friendly agriculture practices like Precision Agriculture (PA) to increase agricultural productivity and to reduce the cost of agricultural production in a bid to ensure food security.
The international seminar titled Technology, Energy and Natural Resources was arranged by Department of Environmental Sciences, GC University Faisalabad that was presided over by Acting Vice Chancellor and Dean Faculty of Science and Technology Professor Dr Naureen Aziz Qureshi. The other speakers include Dr Qamar Zaman and Dr Tri Ngyuen Quang from Dalhousie University Canada, and Department Chairman Dr Farhat Abbas. Dr Schumann from University of Florida also addressed on video conference recorded talk.
Addressing on the occasion, Professor Dr Naureen Aziz said it was prerequisite to make efficient use of natural resources keeping in view the modern trend at par with the international standards by adopting latest techniques. She said glaciers were melting drastically due to climate changes and after 50 years, the country would be left with the few glaciers if the dilemma continued. "Keeping in view, we have to shift to drip irrigation from flood irrigation to save the water for the coming generation," she added. She said level of water use efficiency in Pakistan was only 40 percent while per capita water availability was only 1,000 cubic meter.

Source: http://www.brecorder.com

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Punjab to provide solar-powered tube-wells to farmers

June 23, 2013

Punjab government will provide bio-gas and solar-powered tube-wells to the small farmers of the province with a cost of Rs 7.5 billion. This was disclosed by Punjab Minister for Agriculture, Dr Farrukh Javed at a meeting held at the Agriculture House to review the project of distributing bio-gas and solar-powered tube wells on subsidy to the small growers of the province on Saturday. Project Director Dr Ghaffar Dogar briefed the participants of the meeting about the utility of bio-gas and solar-powered pumps. Speaking on the occasion, the provincial minister said that objective of the government is to introduce alternative and cheaper quality method of irrigation. He said that this will not only provide cheaper energy to the people but they will also be able to dispose off cow dung in a better way.
He said that solar powered pumps and bio-gas powered pumps will be provided to farmers across the province according to their requirement. He said it will be provided to farmers having land from 5 acres to 12.5 acres of land. Participants of the meeting were of the view that these sources are not only environment friendly but can also meet the energy requirements of 65 per cent population.

Source: http://www.brecorder.com

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KBP terms Sindh, Punjab budgets anti-farmer

June 20, 2013

Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) Central President, Sardar Zafar Hussain Khan reacting to provincial budgets announced by the Punjab and Sindh alleged that the provincial governments have totally neglected the farmers' community. He said that the Punjab government provided subsidy on electricity tariff for agricultural tube wells in the past which provided a much required relief to the growers but withdrawal of subsidy in new budget would multiply the hardships of the farmers.
Zafar claimed that all the countries across globe provide subsidy to farming sector for fetching desired positive results but it seemed rulers had taken the decision to strangulate agriculture in the country but not extending any kind of subsidy. He said there had been a need to introduce flat rates for agricultural tube wells on the pattern of Balochistan.

Source:http://www.brecorder.com

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Internship Seeker: Asif Aziz CV

ASIF AZIZ

H-16, T & T COLONY MALIR HALT KARACHI.

EMAIL : asifaziz23@.com

VOICE : 021- 34602475: 0343-2018278

Objective: To put my academic & creative ability to its full use, & pursue a career in its relevance.

Personal Information

Father Name : Abdul Aziz

Date of birth : November 29, 1989

Sex : Male

N.I.C No : 42201-3834100-7

Domicile/PRC : Karachi

Marital Status : Single

Nationality : Pakistani

Religion : Islam

Academic Qualification

2010-present B.S(Hons)(“3”G.P) in Agriculture & Agribusiness Management

From University Of Karachi

2008-2009. Intermediate (Pre-Engineering “B” Grade) from Karachi Board

From Govt. National college

2006-2007 Matric in Science (“A” Grade)

From Karachi Board

Professional Qualification

B.S(Hons.) in Agriculture and University of Karachi

Agribusiness Manangement 4 Year Program

Currently in 6th semester

Courses Studied

Semester I: Introduction to agriculture and agribusiness management, Mechanization in

Agriculture, Soil Science, Biology I, English, Crop Production I (Rabi)

Semester II: Horticulture, Plant Protection, Crop Production II (Kharif), Functional Biology II,

Communication Skills, Islamiat

Semester III: Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Entomology, Agricultural Economics,

Animal Husbandry, Statistics I, Pakistan Studies

Semester IV: Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Statistics II, Agricultural

Microbiology, Introduction to Computer Studies, Urdu

Semester V: Fundamentals of Accountings, Principles of Management, Economics of Agro

Based Industries, Agricultural Finance, Sustainable Agriculture, Community

Development

Semester VI: Agricultural Benefit – Cost Analysis, Business Information Systems, Economics of

Livestock Production, Farm Planning and Management, Management of Farm

Animals, Organizational Behaviour

Training Course Attended

• Attened one day seminar on Halal: symbol of intolerance in the hygiene, safety and quality on October 6, 2012.(certificate)

• Attened one day seminar on Agriculture exports Business Management on April 28, 2012.

• Attened One day workshop on Apiculture on May 12, 2011.(certificate)

• Attened One day conference on 5^th International conference on Food Agriculture & live stock on April 26, 2011

• Attened One day seminar on Ostrich Farming (open of a new Horizon) on January 27, 2011. (certificate)

• Attened One day seminar on Agri-business Management (The key to Future) on May 8, 2010. (certificate)

• Attened One day seminar on Organic kitchen Gardening on April 24, 2010.

Internship

· 15 days internship in Pakistan agriculture research council (certificate)

Skills

· Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Power Point

Good knowledge of internet, e-mail

· Having good communication skills

· Interpersonal skills

· Leadership Quality

Language Proficiency:

English and Urdu (Read, Write and Speak)

Reference:

· Available on request.

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Growing okra in coastal areas

By Engr Kamran Bukhsh Soomro

PARC, Southern Agriculture Research Center, University Campus, University Road Karachi Pakistan

OKRA, called Bhindi, is cultivated in tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate regions. It can also be grown in the coastal areas of Pakistan.
The length of the country’s coast is about 1,100kms which ranges from Gwadar in Balochistan to Badin in Sindh. Malir and other adjacent districts of Karachi come under the coastal area.
Where there is shortage of water, drip irrigation system can be adopted. It is a system that applies water and fertilisers directly to the root zone of individual plant instead of irrigating the entire area with flood or sprinkler irrigation. The system comprises pipeline network as main, sub-main, lateral lines and emitters or tricklers which are fitted on laterals from which water is delivered to the plant at a low pressure.
Under proper management, drip irrigation system is capable of saving water, as only the plant’s root zone is supplied with water; under this system, the use of water is efficient with higher crop yield as compared to traditional irrigation method.
In the coastal areas, the groundwater is saline ranging from marginal to hazardous quality and can be used for cultivation of okra and other vegetables. The Coastal Agricultural Research Station of PARC has taken an initiative for using marginal quality irrigation water in comparison to good quality water under drip irrigation system.

The amount of water applied through drip system to okra crop was 6,989.7m3/ha. The crop yield and water use efficiency was 16.96t/ha and 2.43 kg/ respectively. Thus, it was concluded that okra crop can be grown successfully on a sandy loam soil using saline (marginal quality) ground water for irrigation.
Okra has a great potential in coastal areas. Growers should be made aware of the use of saline ground water for vegetable cultivation.
Controlled and on-spot irrigation through drip system seems the only appropriate method to grow and sustain horticultural activities in this region.
It shall not only provide the required water to the plant but will also resist salt built up in the root. Another possibility may be prevention of diseases particularly of fungal origin.
However, there is need for more research on the use of saline ground water for cultivation of winter and summer vegetable crops and fruit orchards in the coastal belts of Sindh and Balochistan under the drip irrigation system for the benefit of the people of these area.

^{Courtesy: The DAWN}

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Pakistan, Ukraine need to share experience in agriculture

June 19, 2013

Pakistan could make tremendous progress in agriculture by sharing and engaging in public-private sector dialogue on the subject with Ukraine. This was stated by Engr M A Jabbar, Honorary Consul of Ukranie in Karachi on his return on Monday night after participating in the annual business conference held in Kyiv, Ukranie from June 13-15.
The official businessmen delegation led by Jabbar returned after enriching with the knowledge pertaining to the consideration of economic developments and allied features thereof in developing different segments of the economy in their own specific needs for affecting the overall growth and development supported by infrastructure and targeted subsidised measures.
Talking to Business Recorder, he said that the model could always provide inputs for considering structuring of developments of economic management in Pakistan. This benefit will help the delegates to prepare and fine tune their working as recommendations for the Ministry of Commerce and other ministries in considering the local trajectory of development which may be similar in most of the cases and may be amended for adoption due to increased sense and obligations of conducting the trade in the international trading rule on similar grounds providing very few exceptions including for Pakistan.
Ukraine, he said was preparing for free trade, customs union agreements which experiences together gave in sight of dismantling of barriers in the way of trade, harmonise the legislative work and adopt the legal courses of others so that the cohesion became the basis of generating level playing field for conducting trade and business in just & fair way to benefit bilateral, plulateral and multilateral trading amongst the signatory partners. Pakistan has similar situation to conduct the research on experiences of others for possible gainful adoptions in the interest of required economic developments.
Delegates of Pakistan, he said had the pleasure of the meeting the Prime Minister of Ukraine on the reception day and his imparting knowledge also provided a basis of better understanding of the Ukrainian approach for considering modifications in our own structural approaches for denting the flexibility to seek better way of considering recommendation of economic management required by the public sector of Pakistan.
Engr Jabbar said the conference was attended by the President of chambers of different countries as well as by Ukraine Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The presence of American Business Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former President of European Parliament, Prime Ministers of Montenegro, Lithuania and many other high profile positioned persons from abroad and from within graced the occasion as interventionists, discussants, panellist which together provided a knowledge to the delegates from Pakistan sufficient enough to consider the appropriate recommendations and move forward in preparing suggestions of political economy specific to Pakistan by just reformation of the domestic input requirements of total frame work consideration by such high profile business minds sharing their views in the annual conference.
He said that on the development needs of Ukraine for agriculture, the same could act as an advisory compulsion to engage public and private sector dialogues between both countries to improve our agriculture. Pakistan is agri economy, which generates the agri value added textile and needs to increase it's per acre yield as well as needs to improve quality of agri produce to comply the importing requirements of the country on sanitary and phytosanitary barriers. Ukraine is doing so and we can share the same with the Ukrainian experiences as how they are making settlements of sanitary and phytosanitary barriers.
He said every 11th ton of grain in the world market came from Ukraine with the population of 45 million people. The Prime Minister made a statement that the government will support almost all branches of agriculture as a part of national economic development intensification programme for 2013-14. The exports of Ukraine in 2012 climbed by 40 percent with share of agriculture in GDP registering 11 percent.
Pakistan with the agriculture share of 23 percent of the GDP struggles for food security and yet to access to meet requirements of improvements in exports and value add the agri produce through allied industries which again remains to be achieved and strategize as a policy paradigm. The Ukraine trade in grain is 9.2 percent of the world grain trade. With agriculture exports reaching 22 billion US dollar a year affecting the increase in the budget revenues.
The most interesting panel discussion revolved around "Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone between Ukraine and the EU: Prospects for business and investments" and "Development of the Customs Union and economic integration of CIS countries: Prospects for the Ukrainian business".
Both these discussion had a diversified approaches which would give an advantage to understand the over and under advantages of conducting free trade with either of the block or concluding to prefer the one block over another block. Engr Jabbar said the state programme of Ukraine was to include taking measures to balance state finances with real capacity of the economy and to prevent economically unreasonable tax deductions. Pakistan may consider following this base line. It also includes introduction of mechanisms for remote liaison between taxpayer and competent authorities, which Pakistan as a policy has been making advocacy for real implementation.
It also includes approval of law under which business operations that fall under minor or average risk level may terminate under a relevant court decision only, which we also in Pakistan need to improve the business management and governance by protecting the apprehended risks. The Prime Minister of Ukraine has offered to businessmen that government is open for ongoing dialogue with business to commonly find additional measures required to improve business conditions. "We in Pakistan should also develop our integration with high offices of public sector so that continuation of dialogue as per changing environment becomes result oriented to positively affect trade and business in Pakistan.
We have learnt a lot out of panel discussions on "Presentation and discussion on the participation of business and investors in the implementation of the State activation program of the economic development of Ukraine for 2013-14." He said that 73 measures with specific directions as smoothening and catalysts to increase the trade and business were worth considering for customised needs of Pakistan, he said.

Source:http://www.brecorder.com

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