Agricultural research, whether
it is in the area of fibre, fodder, food, fruit or vegetables, is still mediocre
and the results are not spectacular, despite the fact that there are so many
agricultural universities, agricultural colleges, government and semi-government
research-oriented organisations in the country.
Services of the extension wing, responsible for taking the fruits of research to
the field, are also not very satisfactory, due to lack of facilities and
periodical orientation programmes for them.
What is needed is not only to improve the multidisciplinary agricultural
research, but snags ailing the extension services also need to be removed.
We need a strong coordination between agricultural research and the extension
wing services to pass on the research findings to the end-users. Agricultural
scientists should be given due place and recognition for their onerous and
time-consuming research pursuits.
Here, it may interest one to know that the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee —
which is the only federally-controlled cotton research organization in the
country — with the minister for food, agriculture and livestock as its
president, is victim of willful injustice. What happened to this august research
organisation is an eye-opener.
Its headquarters, housing the secretariat, directorate of agricultural and
technological research have all been dislodged from its leased land for the
relocation of the US consulate on its land, throwing everything asunder.
The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee has not yet been able to make its own
building for lack of funds and suitable location. It is making do only in the
rented buildings on a periodical basis.
The whole scientific community and the other beneficiaries of the Pakistan
Central Cotton Committee’s services were a silent spectator to this macabre
drama. Then how can agricultural research make any progress to be
self-sufficient in production of foodgains? Status of the agricultural research
should be elevated by providing more facilities to research workers to deliver
the goods and bring a green revolution in the country.