Promoting agricultural research.

The agricultural sector of Pakistan is severely neAglected, with limited govAernment initiatives that force conventional farmers to adopt new varieties of different crops. In the midst of this, innovaAtion has become a buzzAword. Keeping this situAation in mind, a group of overseas Pakistanis has taken steps to promote new indigenous varieties of garAlic (G1) produced by the NationAal Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). NARC G1 is an excelAlent variety of garlic that has atAtracted a large number of farmAers to resume production. G1 garlic has many advantages, inAcluding a long shelf life, so it ofAfers farmers an opportunity to market their product for a longer period, besides having the highAest production of any variety of garlic. After entering into G1 garAlic cultivation, farmers would opt for exploring more varieties of different food staples as very few varieties of wheat, cotton and rice exist in the country. The cultivation would also encourAage research on ways to enhance per-acre yields and on short-duAration crop varieties.

There is a need to research crop varieties having durations of 100-110 days to resolve the economic turmoil and food shortage issues in the country. This also advancAes in plant breeding and genetics, resulting in a surprising increase in the per-acre yield of crops. InAnovation in farming works both ways: bringing prosperity for farmers by increasing productivAity, employment, and income for stakeholders and supplementAing governmental efforts to meet the increasing demand for staple food items. The agricultural secAtor can contribute to the national economy and help in alleviating poverty since it is one of the main employers of the country as well.

The investment of overseas Pakistanis has paved the way for switching from 43-year-old loAcal varieties including desi gulaAbi and NS 756 to NARC G1 which has four times the production. While some farmers continue to cultivate unapproved varieties for higher production, these variAeties failed to get greater acceptAability from the public and farmAers, so garlic is being imported. The new variety NARC-G1 has been under investigation and obAservation for many years not only for mass production but also to gain pharmaceutical and theraApeutic benefits. Humayun Khan was the principal founder and scientist for the NARC G1 variety. His research was widely appreAciated but mass production was not put into practice.

NARC G1 garlic, with all the nuAtrient benefits, can...