Scientists urged to ensure research results reach farmers

Agricultural Scientists should ensure that research results must reach at the door step of the farmers so that farmers could benefit from successful research activities being carried out in the field and at Laboratories. 

This was stated by the Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Mr. Naveed Saleemi while talking to Dr. Barbara Gemmill-Herren, Focal Point International Pollinator initiatives program specialist, FAO, Italy Rome who called on him here today and brief him about Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) pollination project. The meeting was participated by Dr. Nadeem Amjad, Member, Natural Resources Division, Dr. Ghazanfar Abbas, Secretary, PARC, Dr. Elizabeth Stephen, Director HBRI, NARC.

It is to be noted that FAO is coordinating a United Nations Environment Program/Global Environment Facility (UNEP/GEF) project to better manage those aspects of wild biodiversity that provide pollination services for human livelihood. The five-year project, entitled, “Conservation and Management of Pollinators for Sustainable Agriculture, through an Ecosystem Approach”, will be implemented in seven countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Nepal and South Africa.

Speaking at this occasion Mr. Naveed Saleemi said that PARC is an apex agricultural research organization at national level to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural research system, comprising the federal and provincial components. He said the activities of provincial institutions need to be coordinated at national level to make judicious use of resources. PARC conducts research, especially of a basic and long term nature in areas of national importance, which are either neglected or inadequately covered or are beyond the resources of the provincial institutions.

Briefing at this occasion Dr. Barbara Gemmill-Herren said that over the past decade, the international community has increasingly recognized the importance of pollinators as an element of agricultural diversity supporting human livelihoods. The total economic value of pollination worldwide has recently been estimated $224 billion, representing 9.5% of the value of world agricultural production used for human food, she added. She apprized that maintaining and increasing yields in horticultural crops, seeds and pastures through better conservation and management of pollinators is critically important to health, nutrition, sustainable food production and better farm incomes for poor farmers.

Dr. Barbara informed that development objective of this unique project is to improve food security, nutrition and livelihoods through enhanced conservation and sustainable use of pollinators. The immediate objective is to harness the benefits of pollination services provided by wild biodiversity for human livelihoods and sustainable agriculture, through an ecosystem approach in selected countries, he added. She further told that Project outcomes will be tested, evaluated and showcased in a set of representative farming systems in seven countries with a wide diversity of ecological zones and farming patterns. 

Through the development of good farming practices for pollination services, built on an extended knowledge base, capacity will be increased and awareness raised to promote wise management of pollinators and their services. The result will be a set of tools, methodologies, strategies and best management practices that can be applied to pollinator conservation efforts, she added.

Earlier, Dr. Elizabeth told that FAO prog. Specialist was taken to Murree field area and she also visited National Insect Museum at NARC and also had meeting with Director General, NARC Dr. Muhammad Sharif