PARC-FAST NUCES to promote scientific research in Agro-Informatics
By Tariq Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST-NUCES) have agreed for maintaining close scientific cooperation in advancing the discipline of Agro-Informatics in the Country. For this purpose a memorandum of understanding was signed by Chairman, PARC Dr. M. E. Tusneem and Rector FAST- NUCES Dr. Amir Muhammad at PARC headquarters here the otherday.
Under the agreement both institutions have agreed to undertake and promote research and development (R&D) on Agro-Informatics, a hybrid discipline of agriculture and information technology and also to strengthen the relevant scientific infrastructure that will help strengthen the capacity of these two institutions in joint advanced research in biotechnology, climate change, and forecasting of crop production and water availability etc. The cooperation would include formation of a working group on Agro- Informatics exchange and training scientific and technical personnel for R&D pursuing joint scientific R&D projects, holding of joint conferences, seminars and workshops at national and international level, development of syllabi on Agro-Informatics and getting its approval from Higher Education Commission, access of FAST-NUCES to data, library and labs at the institutions and establishments of PARC and internship of Agro-Informatics students at PARC facilities.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Tusneem and Dr. Amir Muhammad expressed the hope that it would be the beginning of a new chapter in the promotion of cutting-edge scientific research in the emerging areas of Agro-Informatics. The signing of the agreement was also witnessed by Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Member, Plant Sciences Division PARC, Zafar Hameed Hashmi, Secretary PARC Dr.Ghazanfar Abbas, TSO to Chairman PARC Dr. Aftab and Professor Ahsan Abullah from FAST-NUCES.