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FAISALABAD, Oct 13 (APP):University of Florida, US, and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Monday inked a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their research and educational ties as a step towards agricultural development.
UAF spokesman said here on Monday the memorandum was signed by Director Tropical Research and Education Center, Florida University Prof Dr Edward A. Evans and UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali on behalf of their institutions.
In this regard, an international seminar on “Smart Farming” was also organized under the auspices of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Agriculture Engineering and Technology, UAF.
Addressing the seminar, Dr. Edward A Evans said that both institutions were uniquely positioned to shape the future of agriculture across continents.
He said that smart farming was not just tools, but pathways to more efficient, resilient
and climate-smart farming systems.
He said that they were committed to serving this partnership administratively and technically as collaboration was the cornerstone to progress and had a special place in shaping the future of agriculture.
He said that agriculture was facing various challenges including climate change, water, soil fertility, insects, for which joint efforts would help overcome these challenges.
UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Zulfiqar Ali said that national and international institutions would have to make joint efforts to ensure food security.
He said the agreement with the University of Florida would prove to be a milestone through which various challenges could be overcome by benefiting from each others experiences.
He said that both Pakistan and the United States were facing various agricultural problems including climate change, soil fertility etc.
He said that precision agriculture technologies and their implementation were transforming
modern farming systems. “By promoting smart agriculture, we can reduce production costs and ensure rational use of resources”, he added.
Dr Haimanote Bayabil from Florida University talked about the precision water management:
advances in soil hydrological monitoring and AI Application.
Dean Faculty of Agriculture Engineering Prof Dr Anjum Munir said by integrating data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), smart farming enables informed decision-making, efficient resource utilization, and improved crop yields.
In an era of resource constraints and increasing food demand, precision water management,
hydroponics, UAV-based crop monitoring, and smart mechanization techniques offer new avenues for enhancing productivity while safeguarding natural resources, he added.
Prof Dr Adnan Shahid said that in the face of climate change, these digital innovations play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring resilience, and reducing environmental pressures.
The seminar would bring together nations to achieve food security, he added.
Dr Muhammad Zaman, Dr Saddam and Director External Liaisons Dr. Muhammad Tahseen Azhar also spoke on the occasion while scientists from China addressed the seminar online.