Pakistan facing challenges of low agricultural productivity
FAISALABAD (INP): Vice Chancellor (VC) University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan has said that Pakistan is under the grip of different challenges including food insecurity, climate changes and low agricultural productivity. The tangible researches will pave the way for development in order to address the issues, he added. Chairing the third annual workshop titled scientific writing and plagiarism organised by Senior Tutor Office UAF on Sunday, Dr. Iqrar Ahmed urged the scientists to boost up their efforts in the form of tangible researchers for solving the problems of farming community, industries and common man.

He said that honesty, integrity and solutions to the problems of stakeholders must be ensured in the research work. He said that the UAF was making all-out efforts to create the competent atmosphere for the researchers so that they can give the shape to ideas. He said that the UAF research portfolio of has jacked up Rs 2 billion including Rs 700 million international funding. He said that the strict measures were being taken to control the plagiarism. He condemned the malpractices being made on the part of scientists.

Kashmir loses 80 per cent kharif
crop to floods
PULWAMA (NNI): Where the recent floods caused immense losses to trade and commerce in Kashmir, it did not leave the farm sector unscathed. According to official figures, Kashmir has suffered a massive 80 per cent loss to its kharif crop this year. Director Agriculture, Mushtaq Peerzada said: “Kashmir has 141 lakh hectares of land under paddy cultivation, of which 45 lakh hectares were completely damaged and 66 lakh hectares suffered over 70 per cent production loss. The remaining land was also affected to some extent.” Peerzada said they were expecting that average yield of paddy per hectare this year would increase from 55 to 60 quintals.

“But the floods wreaked havoc and losses are enormous,” he said.
Around 70 per cent population in the state is directly or indirectly associated with farm and allied sectors. The three major crops grown in Jammu and Kashmir namely paddy, maize and wheat constitute more than 90 per cent of the total foodgrain production and rest is shared by pulses and other cereals.

Rs 182 million recovered
from water pilferers
MULTA (APP): Multan Irrigation department has recovered about Rs 182m special charges (Tawan) from water pilferers during Rabbi season 2013-14. The teams have raided at various places at four districts included Multan, Lodhran, Vehari and Pak Pattan for recovery of special charges and recovered around Rs 182m. The recovery from Multan district was Rs 640, Rs 8,81,400 from Lodhran, Rs 11,87,900 from Vehari and Rs 9,75,300 was recovered from Pak-Pattan district. The department has also recovered about Rs 54.7m water rates (Abyana) from the growers at four respective districts under Irrigation Multan zone during the rabbi season-2013-14 from (July to Oct-2014).
The abiana recovery from Multan district was Rs 40,95,920,Rs 18,01,500 from Lodhran district, Rs 1,74,19,200 from Vehari and Rs 86,23,500 abiana was recovered from Pak-Pattan district, sources concluded.

Profiteers, hoarders to be
handled strictly
LAHORE (APP): Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yaseen Sunday said the government would take strict action against the profiteers and hoarders. Talking to media during his visit to different Sunday bazaars, he said that media should keep an eye on the anti social elements so the government officials can take action against them. He added that the consumers should also boycott the items which were being sold above the fixed rates. Administrative machinery should also keep working as per the devised mechanism of the government to ensure the provision of essential items on reasonable rates and negligence in this regard would not be tolerated.
He said a fine of Rs 9,778,900 have been imposed on 9282 shopkeepers for overcharging while FIRs have also been registered against 618 shopkeepers during last week.

Foundry needs upgradation: FCCI

FAISALABAD (APP): Foundry is the second largest sector of local industry after textile and needs immediate steps for its up gradation to bring it at par with international standards. This was stated by Engineer Rizwan Ashraf president Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Sunday after addressing an introductory sitting in connection with 5th International Foundry Congress and Exhibition to be held at Lahore under the auspices of Pakistan Foundry Association. Rizwan Ashraf said that most of the spare parts of textile machinery are being prepared in local foundries while this sector has also played an important role in the manufacturing of agricultural appliance that helped Pakistan to increase its farm production.
However serious efforts have yet not been made to develop foundries
on modern lines in addition to resolving its problems confronted by this energy intensive sector, he added.President FCCI appreciated the organization of 5th International Foundry Congress and Exhibition and urged upon the foundry owners and its workers to attend the event to update their knowledge.