2007 © Gomal University, D.I. Khan, Pakistan. All Rights Reserved.

                                           Proceedings/Summary of One Day Workshop

On

“Water/Energy Conservation in Agriculture”

Organized by Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, DIKhan and Financed by HEC, Islamabad, held on 21^st May, 2008.

A one day workshop on “Water/Energy Conservation in Agriculture” was organized by the Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, D.I. Khan. Professor Dr. Muhammad Farid Khan, Vice Chancellor, Gomal University, was the Chief Guest and Maj. Rtd. Latifullah Khan Alizai, MPA, was the Guest of Honour, a speaker and farmers representative. Professor Dr. M. Qasim Khan, Dean Faculty of Agriculture was the Chief Organizer and Dr. M. Jamil Khan, Assistant Professor in Soil Science, Dr. M. Azam Khan, Assistant Professor in Farm Mechanization and Miss Sadaf Javaria, Lecturer in Food Science and Technology, were the Organizers/Secretaries of the workshop. The Workshop started with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Mr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Lecturer in Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, D. I. Khan. The Vice Chancellor, Gomal University, then formally opened the Workshop.

Professor Dr. M. Qasim Khan, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, warmly welcomed the participants and guests in his welcome address. In his speech he also highlighted the purpose of the seminar and stressed for the need of water/energy conservation in agriculture. He also thanked Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan, for initiating and financing the series of workshops for public awareness. Professor Dr. M. Farid Khan, Vice Chancellor, Gomal University, also highlighted the dire need for water/energy conservation in agriculture. He also promised to promote the Faculty of Agriculture to an Agriculture University, which was highly appreciated by the audience. Maj. Rtd. Latifullah Khan Alizai, MPA, The Guest of Honour/farmers representative also elaborated the need for water resource conservation.

Professor Dr. M. Sharif Zia, Eminent Scholar/Professor HEC, was the first speaker. His presentation was about the “Brackish/Saline Water Use in Sustainable Agriculture”. He informed the farmers, legislatures, researchers, politicians, students and general public about the techniques for safe use of brackish/water in agriculture as a part of sustainable agriculture and water resource conservation. Professor Dr. M. Azam Khan, Assistant Professor in Farm Mechanization, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, excellently presented his research work on “Energy requirements for sugar cane production”. His results about the low price which the farmers get for their produce really astonished the audience and gave an open invitation to the researchers, extension workers, legislatures and policy makers to think about the plight of farmers in Pakistan.

Dr. Allah Bakhsh, District Water Management Officer, D. I. Khan, informed the audience in detail about the excellent job their department is doing in respect to farm water management. The farmers and students took keen interest in his speech and put a lot of questions in this respect. Mr. Haq Mali Khan, Project Director, Gomal Zam Dam Project, updated the knowledge of the audience about the water resources of Pakistan. His appeal to the audience in special and to the Nation in general to please! Save one liter of water each was really appreciated by the Hall.

Mr. Shahjahan Bhatti, Chairperson Southern Districts Area Water Partnership, informed in detail about the “water resources of NWFP” and he excellently pointed out how to supplement the existing water resources and where to construct new small dams. Students took keen interest in his speech and were greatly impressed by his knowledge and personality.

Mr. Shaikh Mukarram, President Chamber of Agriculture, spoke in detail about the prevailing trends in farming and about the problems of farmers of the area. Students took keen interest in his speech and engaged him for long time in questions answers session.

Dr. M. Jamil Khan, Assistant Professor in Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Sardar Noman Latif, Senior Engineer, WRRI and other speakers also excellently presented their talks on water conservation in agriculture, Spate/Rod Kohi irrigation systems etc.

In the panel discussion the proposal floated by Dr. M. Jamil Khan, Assistant Professor in Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, D. I. Khan, to establish a soil and water conservation society/forum was given wide approval by the panel of experts. The workshop was attended by large number of students, farmers, researchers, extension workers, NGOs persons, legislatures, politicians, media personals and general public. In the end souvenirs, certificates and conference bags were presented to the speakers, organizers and guests. The guests, speakers, students and all participants were served with tow times refreshments and an excellent lunch.

Pictures of One Day Workshop On “Water/Energy Conservation in Agriculture”