Climate changes aggravating food security issue, playing havoc with human lives: Dr Iqrar.

FAISALABAD -- Climate changes coupled with deteriorating soil condition, polluted and shrinking water resources, excessive usage of chemicals to control plant diseases and fertilizer related snags are not only aggravating the issue of food insecurity but also playing havoc with the lives of the people, said Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

He was addressing the inaugural session of two-day international conference on 'Chemistry, Material and Technology' arranged under the auspices of Department of Chemistry and Endowment Fund Secretariat UAF here on Wednesday.

He said that soil and agricultural commodities are in the grip of Zinc deficiency which is replicated in population at a massive level, provoking malnutrition.

He urged the scientists to solve on-ground problems of the agriculture sector. He said that the UAF is taking all possible steps to hone the skills of its students with modern knowledge that would help them to tackle with all odds in the fields in a better way.

He said that Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute Lyallpur (now University of Agriculture Faisalabad) was established in 1906. He said that famine commission had stated in its report that there is no agricultural educational and research institute in the Indian subcontinent.

He said that in 1961, this institute was given the status of a university, which is providing manpower to ensure green revolution and food security in the country in addition to solving the problems of farmers with tangible research work and outreach programs.

Dr Jamil...