Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Agri engineering degree being launched at university

MULTAN: The Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture has decided to launch a four-year BS programme of agricultural engineering.

The decision was taken at the ‘agro industrial stakeholders’ discussion forum’ of the university on Monday which was held to set direction for the establishment of new faculty of agricultural and bio-systems engineering and technology.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Asif Ali said the cost of production could be reduced and crop yield could be increased by adapting modern mechanisation techniques.


He said the upgrade of existing agro-based industrial system was the key to support the local industry as its trickle down effects would benefit farmers.Former National Assembly speaker Syed Fakhar Imam said that unemployment in the agriculture sector could be addressed through mechanised farming, entrepreneurship and modern industrialization.

He said that in Pakistan food security was a major issue which needed to be addressed with modern farming and modern industrial techniques.

He said he supported introducing agricultural engineering programmes with the collaboration of industrial stakeholders.

Participants suggested that agricultural engineering courses be industrial base to solve the problems of the industry.

They said that the courses should include subjects related to engineering ethics, entrepreneurship, and special emphasis on metallurgy.

The committee recommended that the university administration start the BSc of agricultural engineering based on agro-industrial processing engineering, farm machinery and power, remote sensing and geographic information system engineering and land water resource engineering.

Industrialists at the discussion also accepted the proposal to accommodate fresh graduates on internship in their industries and also promised to strengthen the industry-academia collaboration.

Jahanzeb Dharrala, progressive farmer, highlighted a serious issue of mixing of salts in waste water which seriously affecting soil health, plant health and resulting affecting yield of crops and horticulture.

He enforced his discussion and requested to add courses in the upcoming agricultural engineering programme for waste water treatment with special emphasis to remove salts.

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