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HYDERABAD, Jul 24 (APP):The Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam Dr. Fateh Mari emphasized that the development of country’s seed industry could lead the nation to significant milestones. He outlined that a 5 percent annual growth in agriculture could halve poverty rates within a decade.
He expressed these views while addressing the closing ceremony of a two-day training workshop on “Advancement of Cotton Varieties through Hybridization Techniques,” hosted by the Seed Development and Production Center (SPDC) and the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics at senate hall of SAU, on Wednesday.
Dr. Mari stressed that increasing certified seed production by 20% would not only secure food supply but also enable Pakistan to achieve self-sufficiency in various crops. He highlighted ongoing collaborative projects with China in the seed sector, aimed at enhancing hybrid technology and reducing dependency on foreign sources.
Dr. Mari underscored the importance of improved seeds and food security in ensuring food sovereignty for the people of Pakistan, guaranteeing them access to healthy, nutritious, and sufficient food.
The Director Agriculture Research Sindh Dr. Mazharuddin Keerio affirmed SAU’s commitment to providing certified seeds. He commended the university’s SPDC for its experimental seed work and its partnerships with national and international institutions. The event in Karachi brought together key stakeholders, including agricultural, research, and educational institutions, breeders, private sector entities, and progressive farmers.
SPDC Director Dr. Zahoor Ahmed Soomro, Dr. Shahnawaz Mari and Javed Ahmed also expressed their views. The Vice Chancellor Dr. Mari, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Dr. Aijaz Ahmed Khooharo, Dr. Mazharuddin Keerio and Dr. Zahoor Ahmed Soomro presented appreciation certificates to the workshop participants and organizers.