Islamabad: (Parliament Times) The Directorate of Public Relations and Protocol (PR&P) of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) arranged an Exposure Visit of Electronic and Print Media Group aiming to acquaint the media about agri-research and development activities being carried at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad to disseminate further these R&D activities / new innovations / technologies and information among stakeholders through media.`
Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Chairman, PARC welcomed the Electronic & Media Persons at PARC HQs, Islamabad and briefed in detail about the research activies being carried out at NARC at its different institute. Media was also told about PARC Institutes / Centres working across the country for the promotion and development of agriculture sector in Pakistan. Research Activities about Livestock, Poultry and Fishiries were also updated to the Media Persons. Afterwards, all electronic & media persons were taken to the field areas of NARC where the visitors were welcomed by DG, NARC.
The media visited NARC Agricultural and Biological Engineering Institute (ABEI) where a number of farm machines were displayed wherey they were briefed about farm machinery including olive extraction machine, wheat straw chopper, sisal decorticator with practical demonstration. Ispaghol Processing Plant was also seen by the Media which is a very much usefull technology for Ispahgol Processing especially in Southern Punajb and Sindh Areas where Ispaghol is cultivated widely. Portable Solar Irrigtion System developed by ABEI, NARC was also shown and intrtoduced to the visitors. Briefing about solar system, Media was told that it was developed and demonstrated as pilot project at Chakri. Solar drying technology for fruit and vegetables to manufacture value added products was also demonstrated. On-going research work on different fruits plants in green houses was also presented. Media also visited vegetable experimental area where a number of vegetable nurseries for summer vegetables were ready. On-going Wheat research activites were aslo watched on the spot.
Electronic & Print Media also visited Field Cultivation Areas of Soybean Crop, While briefing to the participants about Soybean Cultivation at NARC, the media persons were told that keeping in view of the importance of soybean crop and huge import bill of soya meal and oil, Oilseeds Research Program of PARC has planted seed multiplication blocks of soybean promising varieties at NARC farm and also distributed seed to different Government Departments and farmers. Objective of the activity is to revive and promote an important crop in the country in Potohar, KP and GB and save foreign exchange on the import of soybean oil and meal. Talapia Fish Sale Point at PATCO was also visited by media perspons. Angora Rabbit at Livestock Research Station was also visted where media persons were told that about Angora Rabbit Farming and its benefits for manufacturing of high value woolens which have got very good export potential. The visistors were also taken to Alternate Energy and Water Resources Institute (CAEWRI) of PARC / NARC and briefed about initiatives to explore the application of alternative energy sources to combat energy crisis. Media persons also made visit at National Referecne Lab for Poultry Diseases (NRLDP), Horticulture Research Insitute (HRI), Yogurt Production Plant and Bio-Resource Conservation Insitute. Role of PARC for promotion of Strawberry and Kiwi fruit which are high value cash crops were also briefed to the media persons
While visiting to Honeybee Research Institute (HBRI), NARC, media perosns were briefed that NARC has practically promoted beekeeping with Apis mellifera in the country. At present scenario, honey production increased tremendously. This is the success story of PARC for the establishment of this species in the country. HBRI, NARC also improving skills of beekeepers, wax recycling for wax foundation sheets through training to agricultural extension staff, beekeepers, universities, research institutes and technical training institutes. Media perosns shown their keen interenst in agri. Research activies carried out by NARC and ensured to highlight to disseminate new agricultural information / knowledge among farming community. Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, DG, NARC also paid vote of thanks to media persons on sparing their precious time. Gift packs were also distributed amongst the visitors.
