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FAISALABAD, Nov 08 (APP): A total of 4,000 students from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) have been deployed to agricultural fields across six divisions of Punjab to assist farmers in wheat cultivation. This initiative, which runs from November 8 to November 16, is aimed at boosting per-acre wheat productivity by 2 to 3 maunds. The students, working under the guidance of agricultural experts and in collaboration with the Punjab Agriculture Extension Department, will visit farmers’ fields to offer practical advice and disseminate expert recommendations.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Zulfiqar Ali emphasized that the campaign provides students with valuable field experience while also helping farmers adopt modern agricultural practices. He described the initiative as a flagship collaboration with the Punjab Agriculture Extension Department, and urged students to engage with farmers patiently and thoughtfully, as it would be a learning experience that would equip them with first-hand knowledge of real-world farming challenges.
The students will guide farmers on the latest agricultural practices, including the use of certified seeds, balanced fertilizer application, and techniques to maximize yield while minimizing input costs. Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali stressed the importance of applying scientific methods to agriculture to help drive a revolution in the sector by ensuring higher per-acre production.
The Vice Chancellor also highlighted the need to bring modern agricultural technology directly to farmers’ doorsteps, emphasizing the role of cooperative models like the National Rural Support Program in strengthening the farming community.
Director General of Agriculture Extension Punjab, Chaudhary Abdul Hameed, noted that the sowing of wheat is underway on 16.5 million acres in the province, with 4.6 million acres already completed. He added that sowing had begun a week earlier this year due to favorable climatic conditions, and the goal is to increase per-acre wheat productivity by 3 maunds, which would directly improve farmers’ incomes. The Punjab government is also offering a support price of Rs 3,500 per ton for wheat this year.
Dr. Amer Rasul, Director General of Pest Warning, emphasized the importance of educating farmers about pest and weed management, which is a critical part of the campaign for ensuring optimal crop growth and yield.
Chaudhary Khalid Mehmood, Director of Agriculture Extension Faisalabad, assured that all necessary measures would be taken to address farmers’ concerns and help disseminate the latest agricultural trends to ensure food security in the region.
Prof. Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at UAF, explained that students from various faculties, including Agriculture, Social Sciences, Agri. Engineering, and Animal Husbandry, would be involved in the campaign, visiting six key divisions: Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sargodha, and Sahiwal.
In a symbolic gesture, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali also inaugurated wheat sowing on 1,000 acres of university land, further underscoring the university’s commitment to agricultural development and research.