Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan

Agriculture is a vital sector of Pakistan's economy and about two-third population lives in the rural areas. The role of agriculture in the development of rural areas has not been fully played. In this regard, educational institutes should play prime role in addressing the problems of rural farmer community. I appreciate the efforts of UAF Sub-Campus Burewala-Vehari for organizing the events like Kisan Convention and outreach activities. It is a positive gesture and an effort to communicate with the rural farmer community around the Sub-Campus. We are here to focus upon the problems of farmers residing in suburban areas. There is a dire need to update policies for the promotion of agricultural sector, particularly keeping in view the problems of farmers. Foreign policies cannot address the problems of our rural community. So, we need to do away with the shallow policies implemented by IMF and World Bank because these policies are making our farmers no more than beggars. This campus is built with this sole purpose. Our young researchers should communicate with the farmer community here. For interaction with the suburban community and addressing their problems regarding agriculture, our faculty members should conduct surveys, seminars and workshops. For this purpose, a research and outreach center will also be established in Burewala Campus in near future, so that we could address the problems of farming community in a more planned and systematic way. We should offer our services to connect the farmers with govt. heads. So, that they may design their own policies by keeping in view the current problems of our farmers in the modern age.