Bosan calls for more funding in agricultural research
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—The Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Sikandar Hayat Bosan has said that the agricultural research is the major driving force for an increase in agricultural production, which it had demonstrated in the past.
The Minister expressed these views in his opening remarks at the 3rd ALPInternational Workshop, organized by the Agricultural Linkages Program of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) here on Wednesday.
Bosan said in a number of cases, however, decreasing funding for thePakistan’s agricultural research system in real terms, the low number of scientists per population, the low number of support staff perscientist; the low ratio of scientists with a PhD to other scientists aswell as insufficient operating funds for research are some of thelimiting factors responsible for slow performance of our National Agricultural Research System.
“Ideally, the investment in agricultural research should not be lessthan 1.5% of the national GDP,” he maintained and added: “Presently we are spending less than one percent of the GDP.”
The Minister Agriculture further said that with the induction ofAgricultural Linkages Program (ALP), the agricultural research scientists have been provided with sufficient operational funding forcutting edge research through competitive grants.
He said that for implementation of the ALP, the Government of Pakistanentrusted the responsibility to PARC for setting up “Agricultural Research Endowment Fund (AREF)” from the sale proceeds of US wheatequivalent to Rs1.3billion and the income from this fund is being used for the promotion and support of ALP research activities in line with Pakistan’s long term research and development goals for the growth anduplift of agriculture sector.
Bosan said that ALP also encourages and supports the exchange ofagricultural scientists/research mangers for increasing linkages of Pakistan’s agricultural research system with the research systems of theUS and other developed and developing countries.
On the occasion in his welcoming remarks, Dr. M.E.Tusneem, Chairman PARCsaid that AREF was approved in March 2000 and the first batch of projects started implementation from March 2001. “As of-date 257 research projects based on competitive grant system have been approved for Rs766million,” he said and informed that of these, 85 have been completed.
About the objectives of the workshop Dr. Tusneem said that it had twothemes. First one: to highlight important success stories of the completed ALP projects and the Second: to seek more cooperation from thefriendly countries for increased and sustainable linkages. He maintained that the outcome of the workshop would enable PARC toexpand partnership with other research organizations and scientists of friendly countries. “This will help us achieve Pakistan’s long-term research and developmentobjectives,” he said.
On the occasion Chairman PARC informed that the ALP - created underAgricultural Research Endowment Funds is unique in the region to support operational research and to address the real problems of agriculture. Dr. Tusneem invited the diplomats and representatives from friendly countries and international development/donor agencies who were present in the workshop, to review and participate in the ALP collaborativeresearch program through the exchange of knowledge and scientists.
Earlier, Dr. James Stevenson, Program Leader - FAS, US Department ofAgriculture and Shahida Jamil, Executive Director ALP also addressed the workshop. Three Technical Members of PARC highlighted the researchpro jects completed of their respective disciplines of Plant, Animal and Social Sciences. Later, Federal Agriculture Minister distributed awards among the eminent scientists in recognition of their meritorious services in research and development.