Islamabad: (Parliament Times)  Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) being apex body of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of Pakistan at federal level has convened the 7th meeting of Inter-Provincial Agricultural Research Coordination Committee (IPARCC) here at PARC (HQs). The committee was constituted in 2007 with the prior approval of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research / President PARC’s Board of Governors on the direction of Prime Minister of Pakistan. The committee representing four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan. The Vice Chancellors, Agri. Scientists, Policy Makers, Technical Members of Council, Representative from Provincial Agri-Research / Livestock departments and Chief Planning Officers attended the meeting.
Chairman PARC Dr. Yusuf Zafar T.I. presided over the meeting. He welcomed the participants and apprised that PARC, being a federal research organization, have to perform the role of an effective coordinator and facilitator and has to take lead role in certain agricultural R&D areas in post devolution scenario. He hoped that such events will be helpful to share the knowledge, on-going research activities, enhance the opportunities of collaboration, focusing on issues / problems and to reach to the logic conclusion to address these issues as well as to set priorities for the future research in NARS.
The committee reviewed the ongoing research activities, research policies, issues, challenges confronting NARS and set forth research priorities for the country. The committee emphasized that PARC and Provincial Institutes should work together for the benefit of the farmers’ communities. The committee urged that new research projects should be aimed to be result orientated and farmers friendly. While describing the role of provinces, the committee emphasized the need for active participation of members of the IPARCC as coordinators and facilitators for developing and refocusing NARS research agenda more responsive to emerging challenges of food security, bio-energy and pro-poor economic development.With precious recommendations the meeting ended with vote of thanks.
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