OKARA: Agricultural experts have shown concern over low investment in agricultural research, saying that it frustrates efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty from the county as the growth in the agriculture and rural sectors was directly linked to development.

Experts said this at a farmers` consultative meeting to discuss suggestions on Punjab`s agricultural policy. The meeting was arranged by the US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, Outreach Chair, University ofAgriculture of Faisalabad (UAF).

UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan presided over the meeting. He said a rupee invested in agricultural research would benefit the sector 10 times.

He said that investment in agriculture was low despite the fact its share in gross domestic product was 21 percent. He said instead of dishing out subsidies, more funds should be allocated for research and development. He said commissioned research should be focused involving industry and farmers in the process. He said subsidising the commodities in the agriculture sector would leave a telling impact on competitiveness. He suggested subsidies bephased out to promote a positive competition in production.

He criticised the water intensive crop like rice, which would fetch Rs2 billion in exports consuming Rs10 billion water. He demanded more focus on water efficient crops. He said that a vibrant market and value addition mechanism in the agriculture sector were the need of the hour.

HesaidtheUAFhadestablished its Okara-Depalpur sub campus in which 26 PhD scholars were serving. The academic session in the sub campus will commence from the next academic year.

He said that two research groups on potatoes and tomatoes had been set up in the sub campusas Okara was a leader in potato production.

Progressive farmer Zahid Irshad said that the country was blessed with tremendous resources but most of them had yet to be tapped. He said low investment in agriculture research was a matter of grave concern. He spoke on the water issue, saying the water table was going down every year and water efficient irrigation methods like drip and sprinkle should be adopted to save water.

Another farmer, Hamid Mahi, said that 75 percent of our exports were related to the agricultural sector. He called for introducing short term varieties and setting upof water reservoirs.

Faisal Shah, Dr Jahanzeb Cheema, Haji Shoukat and Noshaba Shahzad also spoke.

CASE: A shwarma vendor was booked by City A-Division police for supplying unhealthy food on Saturday on the complaint of Muhammad Asghar, of village of 7/4L.

Vendor Ahmad, of Gole Chowk, served shwarma to complainant`s son Muhammad Waqas which caused food pinioning to Waqas, Aqsa, Asma, Nimra, Remsha Akram and Sanam Akram. A case was registered against Ahmad under section 337-J (causing hurt by mean of a poison) of Pakistan Penal Code.