Leading bio-technologists at a seminar called for promotion of biotechnological research in the field of agriculture can help Pakistan ensure food security for its burgeoning population in addition to giving boost to its agricultural exports.
This was the crux of the speeches delivered at the seminar jointly organised by Pakistan Biotechnology Information Centre (PABIC) and Agriculture Journalists Association, Lahore (AJA) on "Benefits of using biotechnology to boost agriculture produce."
Director General Agriculture and Biotechnology Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Yusuf Zafar said that new laws and protocols developed in the wake of WTO have been posing hurdle in the transfer of technology.
However, he was of the opinion that well-regulated international environment in the field of biotechnology is both bane and boon for the developing countries like Pakistan.
He said that biotechnology would attain even more importance for Pakistan for producing more food and fibre crops as its population is going to explode to the level of 335 million by the year 2050.
He said that the country is facing multiple food security related challenges, which requires equal attention from both public and private sectors.
He pointed out that in per capita term; Pakistan has 7,400-cubic-meter water available in 1947, which dropped to 1,000-cubic-meter in 2005.
Similarly, land availability has shrunk from 0.7 hectare to 0.4 hectare during the same period.
On the other hand, population has been busting on a rapid pace, which would touch 335 million by 2050, he maintained.
Zafar pointed out that urea price has jumped up by Rs 1,060 whereas DAP fertiliser price increased by Rs 1,900 per bag during the last three years.
High petroleum products and energy prices were further inflating input cost.
In these circumstances, biotechnology could play a significant role in national food security as this technology had genetic potential to enhance produce and profitability by cutting input cost.
He pointed out that the country is produced merely 1.7 million tons of corn in year 2000.
But after the adoption of hybrid technology, Pakistan produced 3.4 million tons of corn in 2010 and it was expected that domestic corn production would touch five million tons mark in 2015.
He underscored that revolution in corn production helped the domestic poultry feed industry to make chicken meat prices affordable for the masses.
Chairman International Council for Life Sciences - Pakistan, Dr Anwar Naseem said that there is a need of engaging media in creating awareness among the farming community about the benefits of the technology.
He said that the institutionalisation of relationship between media and agriculture scientists is necessary.
Associate Professor and in-charge Biotechnology Division International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Dr Saifullah Khan said that the problem of nutritional deficiency could be overcome in developing countries by developing crops with vitamins.
The development of golden rice with vitamin A, iron and protein promised decline of incidence of blindness and malnutrition in the developing world.
He said that the transgenic varieties of cotton, potato and banana had the in built abilities to withstand the attack of pests and insects.
Speakers also said that the government should expedite the process of licensing the new variety of hybrid corn seeds, which have successfully completed the field trials, enact enabling laws like Plant Breeders Act and implement IPR laws effectively.
They pointed that the farmers are receptive to biotech crops and the proof of this is that almost 80 percent farmers have switched to the legal and illegally acquired BT cotton seeds, while the agreements regarding bringing in Bollgard II is pending for over a year.
They said that BT crops not only increase agriculture production but also reduce use of pesticides, which in turn improves the environment.
The benefits of introduction of new BT seeds will be huge for our farmers, they underlined.
Brushing aside misconceptions about biotechnology, the experts said ever-increasing global adoption of biotech crops was a testimony of the fact that biotech crops were safe and all the propaganda against biotech crops is baseless.
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