Working Group reviews NARC facilities and research programmes to align agricultural innovation with farmers’ needs and food security goals.
The transformation of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) is gaining momentum as the government moves to modernize agricultural research, improve technology transfer and make scientific work more responsive to farmers’ needs.
A high-level Working Group established for the transformation process recently visited the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) to examine research infrastructure, technologies, institutional capacity and ongoing programmes.
The initiative is being pursued under the leadership of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.
The Working Group includes Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Agriculture and Food Security Ahmed Umair, LUMS Professor Emeritus and former Vice Chancellor Dr. Syed Zahoor Hassan, and former Punjab Agriculture Secretary Rana Nasim Ahmed.
During the visit, the delegation inspected several key research facilities, including NIGAB laboratories, the IoT-based Smart Glasshouse, Korea Aeroponics Complex, National Genebank, Horticultural Research Institute and Agricultural Engineering Institute.
The team also reviewed the Speed Breeding Facility, Land Resources Research Institute, Crop Diseases Research Institute, Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Food Science Research Institute, Fisheries and Livestock Research Station and Animal Health Programme.
Officials briefed the Working Group on research in agricultural biotechnology, genomics, smart farming, aeroponics, horticulture, mechanization, genetic resources and speed breeding. The delegation also examined work related to food safety, pesticide residue testing, food science, livestock, fisheries and animal disease diagnostics.
Rana Tanveer Hussain said the PARC transformation seeks to establish a modern, demand-driven and results-oriented agricultural research system. He emphasized that research should not remain confined to laboratories but should produce practical solutions that can be implemented in fields.
The minister highlighted the importance of climate-resilient farming, improved crop varieties, biotechnology, mechanization, modern agricultural technologies and value addition to increase productivity and strengthen farmers’ incomes.
He further directed PARC to align its research priorities with changing climate conditions, market demand and Pakistan’s food security requirements. Better coordination between research institutions and relevant stakeholders was also emphasized.
The Working Group is expected to submit recommendations covering governance, research priorities, innovation, commercialization and technology transfer.
The broader objective is to strengthen PARC as a leading national institution for agricultural research and innovation while ensuring that scientific advancements contribute directly to Pakistan’s farming sector and food security.