PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: Advisor to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Agriculture Mian Muhammad Umar on Wednesday inaugurated a Geographic Information System (GIS) Lab at Directorate General Crop Reporting Services, Peshawar and inspected various sections of newly established facility. Relevant officials briefed the advisor on objectives of the lab, its working mechanism and use of modern geographic information technology in crop reporting and agricultural planning. Director General Agriculture Extension Dr. Naveed, Director Soil and Water Conservation Samiullah and other officers were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Mian Muhammad Umar said that use of modern technology and scientific methods was essential for the agriculture sector. adoption of advanced technologies would help ensure accurate estimates of crop production and enable timely and effective assessment of losses caused to agriculture by climate change and extreme weather conditions.
Advisor Agriculture further directed that farmers’ registration at Farmers Model Farm Services Centres should be ensured to facilitate farmers and provide them with effective access to agricultural services. He stressed the need to strengthen regular and effective coordination between agricultural officers and farmers. called for measures to further improve the performance, quality of services and effectiveness of Model Farm Services Centres.
Director General Crop Reporting Services Syed Altaf Ahmed Shah gave a detailed briefing on newly established GIS Lab. The facility had been established in a short period under the Food Security Support Project Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, being implemented with the support of Asian Development Bank.
He said that GIS technology would further strengthen Crop Reporting Services’ capacity to estimate the production of all major and minor crops, fruits and vegetables cultivated across the province. The lab was equipped with modern equipment and staffed by professional personnel, which would help the Agriculture Department perform relevant tasks more efficiently, rapidly and on scientific lines.
Mian Muhammad Umar said information generated through the GIS Lab would be highly valuable for provincial planners, policymakers and relevant authorities. He added that reliable and timely agricultural data would enable better and more result-oriented decision-making.
He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was giving special attention to the use of modern technology and research in the Agriculture Department so that farmers could be provided with improved facilities and the challenges facing the agriculture sector could be addressed effectively.
