He, online, addressed the concluding session of 19th International Congress of Soil Sciences themed soil health and sustainable development goals at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). It was jointly arranged by UAF and Soil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP) at Iqbal Auditorium . He said that the soil fertility was decreasing that was challenge for the agricultural scientists . He said that the government was taking all possible measures under Prime Minister Agriculture Program to uplift the sector and to address the grievances of the farming community. He added that 40 percent of our population was malnourished, which is a matter of grave concern. He said that the researchers should come up with viable solutions to address the problems of farming community and increase productivity in order to ensure food security.
UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the soil health is waning owing to soil erosion and nutrition depletion becoming a matter of grave concern and posing a threat of food insecurity. He said that our agriculture was in the grip of different challenges despite the being of the best eco-system climate and others. According to the estimates by 2050 the countrys population will touch 300 million for which we have to take effective measures to ensure food security. Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri said that poverty alleviation was directly linked to agriculture sector. He said that it was vital to persuade the private sector to invest in agriculture. He said that the soil sciences department has an important role in the agricultural sciences . He stressed upon extension workers to visit villages to get aware to the farming community about agricultural recommendations and technologies.
Director Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization UAF/ President SSSP Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir stressed upon the need to protect managing soil and use the latest environmental friendly tools for a better tomorrow. He said that they were making all possible efforts to improve the soil health in the country on scientific bases. He said that in the conference the eminent soil sciences participated and come up with tangible recommendations.