The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC)

PARC is the national agricultural research and development organization of Pakistan. It manages its research and development activities through its various technical divisions and country-wide cooperative research programs. These activities include MOUs with national and international research organizations, PSDP-funded projects, and competitive grants under the Agricultural linkages program. Its National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) is located in Islamabad. Its activities span a wide range of agricultural sectors.

Agricultural Linkages Program (ALP)

The Agricultural Linkages Program (ALP) of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council has established a fund to facilitate the implementation of ALP projects. The fund receives proceeds from the sale of US wheat and is invested in government-approved schemes. The fund will be used to support the activities and projects of the ALP. The funds will be used to address the long-term research and development objectives of Pakistan, which include food security and equitable sustainable agriculture. The fund also covers local travel expenses for research personnel.

The ALP committee approved twenty-two research and development projects for the country’s agriculture sector. These projects will address agricultural development, livestock, and other aspects of local agriculture. The projects are designed to enhance the nation’s agricultural production, improve food security, and boost its socio-economic development. The board approved the 22 projects, including agribusiness and rural development. However, it is a challenging time to make agricultural research and development work in Pakistan.

The PARC evaluation report recommends that the Government of Pakistan improve its grant-funding system, design a demand-driven research system, and increase crop and livestock production sustainably. The Government of Pakistan has been interested in learning more about the Brazil Enterprise for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA), a South-South knowledge exchange organization. The World Bank has helped to facilitate this exchange.

National Master Agricultural Research Plan (NMARP)

The development of a successful agri-biotechnology sector in Pakistan relies on an effective national Master Agricultural RI plan. The plan should also focus on increasing sustainable crop yields and livestock production. To achieve this goal, the PARC must have adequate funding and government commitment. The GOB’s actions in this area led IDA to believe that the plan would be implemented. These actions included assigning project staff, vehicles, and funding.

The National Master Agricultural RI project was one of the primary objectives of ARP-II. Among other goals, NMARP is meant to improve the planning, management, and funding of agriculture research in Pakistan. Its objectives are to review the reasons for revitalising the Pakistan agricultural research system, identify the current status of agriculture research, and outline the priorities for future agricultural research.

The NARC is the largest research center of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. It coordinates the research activities of provincial, federal, and institutional partners. This central institute is best equipped to deal with the most pressing research issues. The second largest research establishment of the PARC is the SARC in Karachi Sindh. It has more than 50 scientists and is located in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces.

National Uniform Yield Trials (NUYT)

The National uniform yield trials, abbreviated as NUYT, are a series of evaluations of crops to determine the best varieties for a given farming region. The trials are designed to identify the most effective varieties for a specific agro-ecological region, and evaluate their yield ability and agronomic adaptation. The NUYT is an important tool for agricultural researchers.

The selection of new strains for wheat is ongoing. A total of 18 new promising wheat strains from Pakistani breeders are currently under test. The yield data collected from the tests are then compiled and disseminated to breeders for approval of a new variety. But how do these trials work? Here are some facts. NUYT is a multi-year program. Each year, it incorporates a wide range of varieties to test for yield potential and agronomic traits.

The National Uniform Yield Trials are a major step forward for Pakistani biotechnology. The Pakistani Agriculture Research Council approved the use of pest-resistant Bt cotton and has conducted several field trials of biotech maize hybrids. Currently, 95 percent of Pakistani maize production is hybrids. Further biotechnology development will be needed to produce maize hybrids that can reach even greater yields.

SARC

The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (SARC) is a national organization that works with other federal and provincial institutions to provide science-based solutions for the country’s agriculture. PARC has seven divisions: five technical and two services. PARC works to increase agricultural productivity and efficiency, reduce costs, and improve food security and nutrition. PARC is the focus of agricultural research in Pakistan, and it serves as a conduit between researchers and other stakeholders for the progress of agricultural development.

PARC has three research centers in Pakistan: NARC in Islamabad and SARC in Karachi Sindh. The NARC is the largest research centre, coordinating the research activities of the various federal, provincial, and institutional partners. It addresses research needs best at the national center. The second largest research establishment of the SARC is in Karachi Sindh and has more than 50 scientists. Both SARC and NARC are involved in agricultural research of national and international significance.

SARC focuses on a variety of crops. Besides the three main crop commodities, PARC also conducts agronomic research and develops new varieties of crops for Pakistan’s farmers. It works in collaboration with federal and provincial institutions and sponsors contract research projects to address priority problems. PARC scientists conduct national uniform yield trials for candidate varieties developed by breeders. During the trials, scientists evaluate yield potential, adaptation to different agro-ecological zones, and disease resistance.

NARC

The National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) is a research institute of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is a part of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, which is headed by Khusro Bakhtiar. The NARC focuses on improving the country’s agriculture. It was founded in 1908, and is one of the oldest institutions in the country.

Its main objective is to develop and implement a range of agricultural and environmental research projects. The Centre’s research activities are carried out through its national and international research programs and MOU’s. The NARC also funds competitive research grants through the Agricultural linkages Program. The research activities of the NARC have a direct impact on agriculture, enabling farmers to make the most of water and land resources. A major part of NARC’s work is crop pattern zoning, which involves the allocation of land and water to certain crops.

The NARC conducts research according to the agro-ecological requirements of the country’s different regions. The council’s research staff has also served on the governing bodies and technical committees of federal organizations. It also conducts research in fields related to organic farming and maize varieties. This article is a brief introduction to the organization. The articles on this website are written by Mohiuddin Aazim and Amin Ahmed.

NIBGE

NIBGE, or the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, is the main biotechnology institute of Pakistan. It was inaugurated by the President of Pakistan in 1994 and has served as a focal point for the nation’s modern biotechnology research. NIBGE also serves as a technology receiving center. The institute conducts research and provides technology for farmers and other institutions, with a focus on agriculture and health. Its research projects are supported by national financial grants.

NIBGE developed Bt cotton strains in the early 2000s, which were highly susceptible to sucking insect pests and CLCuD. Public and private sector organizations in Pakistan began breeding to introduce the Bt gene. The resulting lines, however, were not yet ready for field testing in Pakistan because of biosafety regulations. Fortunately, the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering initiated the development of Bt cotton and began field testing under a voluntary code of conduct.

AARI has 11 directorates and subordinate institutes in Faisalabad, which are responsible for conducting research and development in different sectors of the agricultural industry. They include the departments of cereals, vegetables, and horticulture. In addition, the institutes focus on agronomy, entomology, and post harvest technology. Moreover, there are several subordinate institutes in different parts of the country.