Tandojam: A group of 37 BS-17 officers participating in the 53rd Common Training Programme (CTP) visited Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam during their study tour of Sindh.
The trainee officers were given a detailed briefing about the university’s role in agricultural education and research, modern farming, climate change, water resource management, sustainable agricultural development and food security.
The study tour was led by Training Centre Deputy Director Akhtar Mahmood, Muhammad Ijaz and Aftab Akram Chauhan.
The visit was organized under the supervision of the Secretariat Training Institute (STI), Islamabad.
The purpose of the study tour was to provide trainee officers with practical knowledge about important government and educational institutions in the country. It also aimed to improve their understanding of governance, cooperation between institutions, regional conditions and social and economic development.
An introductory session was held at the Senate Hall of Sindh Agriculture University. Vice Chancellor Engineer Professor Dr Altaf Ali Siyal chaired the session.
Speaking to the visiting officers, Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said that Sindh Agriculture University was moving towards completing 50 years since its establishment.
He said the university was playing an important role in providing education, research and trained professionals for Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
The vice chancellor said the university was also conducting basic and applied research in several areas, including agriculture, veterinary sciences, information technology, banking and social sciences.
Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said Pakistan’s agricultural production had still not reached its full potential because of several challenges.
He stressed the need to promote modern agricultural technologies to improve production and make farming more efficient.
According to the vice chancellor, Pakistan is still at an early stage of adopting data-based agriculture. He said the country also needs to make greater progress in smart agriculture and robotic agriculture.
Dr Altaf Ali Siyal said that despite being an agricultural country, Pakistan gets around 24 percent of its Gross Domestic Product from the agriculture sector.
He said integrated efforts were needed to increase agricultural production, improve water use, promote modern technology and help the agriculture sector adapt to climate change.
Addressing the trainee officers, the vice chancellor said they would take important responsibilities in different government institutions in the future.
He advised them to understand how government institutions work and to learn about public issues and the major sectors of the national economy.
He said this knowledge would help them perform their duties more effectively when they take charge of important government positions.
The vice chancellor also highlighted the university’s efforts to provide higher education opportunities to students from low-income families.
He said the university was trying to provide quality education at affordable fees so that students from less wealthy backgrounds could also receive higher education.
During the session, Dean Faculty of Crop Protection and Adviser Directorate of Advanced Studies Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi gave the delegation a detailed briefing about the university.
He explained the university’s academic programmes, research activities, infrastructure and the performance of its different departments.
Registrar Ghulam Mueenuddin Qureshi welcomed the visiting delegation.
The Adviser of the Quality Enhancement Cell performed the duties of host during the event.
Akhtar Mahmood, Muhammad Ijaz and Ms Fatima appreciated the university’s teaching environment, research activities, infrastructure and work in different fields.
They described Sindh Agriculture University as an important educational institution at the national level.
During the study tour, the trainee officers also visited several important facilities of the university.
They visited the Horticulture Garden, Sports Complex and Malir Model Farm.
They also visited different laboratories of the Faculty of Crop Protection and other academic and administrative departments.
The delegation was informed about the major challenges facing Pakistan’s agriculture sector.
They were also briefed about the role of universities in agricultural education and research, climate-friendly farming methods, effective management of water resources, sustainable agricultural development, modern agricultural technology and food security.
The officers learned how universities can support farmers and the agriculture sector through research, education, innovation and modern technology.
The visit also provided the trainee officers with an opportunity to see the university’s facilities and research work in person.
Officials explained that better use of technology, data and scientific research can help Pakistan increase agricultural production and deal with major challenges.
Climate change, water shortages and the need for greater food production are among the important challenges facing the country’s agriculture sector.
The university officials emphasized that cooperation between government institutions, educational institutions and other organizations is important for solving these problems.
The study tour was part of the officers’ wider learning programme and was designed to give them practical knowledge beyond classroom training.
The visit to Sindh Agriculture University also highlighted the importance of agricultural education, research and innovation in Pakistan’s economic development.
The delegation completed its visit after touring the university’s academic, research and administrative facilities and learning about its contribution to agriculture and national development.
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