Islamabad: The Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research held its 15th meeting to review contributions to agricultural research and national food security efforts. Chaired by Syed Tariq Hussain, the session focused on the University of Agriculture Faisalabad’s (UAF) initiatives and challenges in the sector.

The committee was briefed by the Vice Chancellor of UAF, who detailed the university’s academic and research contributions. UAF, with over 33,000 students, offers a wide range of programs and employs 682 faculty members. The briefing highlighted strategic alignments with national agricultural priorities, focusing on genetics, seed improvement, and agro-technology.

Key developments discussed included hybrid technology and the creation of resource-efficient crop varieties like durum wheat. This aligns with the committee’s emphasis on reducing crop life cycles to conserve resources. The development of high-yield Brassica and Okra varieties further showcased UAF’s research achievements.

Concerns were raised about reported sugarcane yield increases, with doubts cast on data accuracy due to potential underreporting by sugar mills. The committee questioned the efficacy of resource investments, given the marginal yield improvement.

UAF’s collaborative efforts with the Asian Development Bank aim at enhancing precision agriculture through AI and other technologies. The university also supports international outreach and is involved in projects to meet export standards.

Future projects will target climate change, water management, and mechanization, with a focus on AI-driven climate-smart models. The session also identified challenges such as policy gaps and resource limitations.

The meeting was attended by committee members, ministry officials, and representatives from various agricultural bodies, reflecting a collective effort to strengthen Pakistan’s food security framework.