KP secretary for promotion of agricultural research, improved crop varieties to boost productivity

PESHAWAR, Sep 23 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary Agriculture Dr Muhammad Bakhtiar Khan on Wednesday stressed the need to further promote agricultural research, development of improved crop varieties and research activities aimed at increasing farm productivity in the province.

He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Directorate General Agriculture Research to honour scientists, breeders and researchers for their outstanding contributions to agricultural research and development of new crop varieties. The event was organised in collaboration with CCRI Pir Sabak, Nowshera.

The secretary said research in line with modern agricultural requirements and development of high-yielding, disease-resistant crop varieties would help enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to the province’s agricultural development.

The event aimed to acknowledge and encourage the research contributions of scientists, experts and breeders associated with various agricultural research institutions in KP.

Crop varieties developed by provincial researchers also performed prominently in the recent National Uniform Yield Trials (NUYT) conducted across the country.

According to the trial results, wheat lines developed by different agricultural research institutions in KP showed notable performance under both irrigated and rain-fed conditions.

The wheat line PR-163 developed by CCRI Pir Sabak, Nowshera, performed consistently during the two-year National Uniform Wheat Yield Trials (NUWYT).

It secured first position in the irrigated trial and third position in the rain-fed trial in 2024-25, while it stood fifth in the irrigated and ninth in the rain-fed trial in 2025-26.

Similarly, wheat line SN-053 developed by ARS Sarai Naurang, Bannu, secured first position across the country in the rain-fed NUWYT 2025-26.

Scientists, breeders and research experts associated with CCRI Pir Sabak Nowshera, ARS Sarai Naurang, ARI Dera Ismail Khan, ARI Tarnab Peshawar, BARS Kohat, ARI Mingora Swat, ARS Baffa Mansehra, ARS Karak and ARS Charsadda were also recognised for their research services.

Dr Bakhtiar Khan appreciated the efforts of the agricultural scientists, breeders and researchers, saying their continued hard work was contributing to the development of the agricultural sector and the province’s efforts towards self-sufficiency.

At the end of the ceremony, certificates of appreciation were distributed among the high-performing scientists, breeders and researchers.