MULTAN: United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a series of training programmes to help Pakistan develop its seed industry and enhance agriculture production to ensure food security in the country.The second training programme for agriculture scientists, seed company representatives and progressive farmers was held at Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan with Dr.Shakeel Ahmad Khan, the FAO seed sector consultant, in the chair.
The programme was launched under special instructions from ministry of national food security and research under a technical cooperation programme titled “Building Capacity FSC&RD” of UN’s FAO.
Dr. Shakeel said that FAO was playing effective role in enhancing technical capabilities of seed sector in Pakistan. FSC&RD director Mian Ziauddin said that country’s agriculture production would improve by virtue of strengthening seed industry and availability of quality seed. He said, it would improve national economy and financial conditions of farmers and ensure national food security.
CCRI Multan director Dr. Zahid Mahmood said the government was utilizing all resources to provide quality seed of different crops to farmers. He said that the FAO training programme would help strengthen seed industry, and ensure availability of good quality seed. He said that CCRI would continue to contribute to develop pure and high quality cotton seed.