The Sugarcane Research and Development Board (R&DB) has initiated a scholarship program aimed at training university students in various aspects of sugarcane production, including quality assessment and the exploration of different sugarcane varieties.
As reprted, this decision was made during the R&DB Board of Governors’ annual meeting held at Ashraf Sugar Mills, chaired by Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf.
Program Details
- Participating Universities: Selected students will come from several universities, including:
- Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB)
- University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF)
- Nawaz Sharif Agriculture University, Multan
- Baba Farid Agriculture University, Rahim Yar Khan
- University of Sargodha (UoS)
- Inclusion of Stakeholders: The program will also involve officials from the agriculture department, progressive farmers, and staff from various sugar mills across the country.
Research Initiatives
The board has decided to acquire 400 acres of land at Chak Jhumra from the Faisalabad agriculture department to establish a research center dedicated to developing new sugarcane seed varieties. Additionally, they plan to invite Brazilian sugarcane scientist Dr. William to conduct research focused on improving sugarcane production, quality, and variety in Pakistan.
Key Attendees
The meeting included notable attendees such as:
- Shahid Afghan, CEO of R&DB
- Shoaib Khan Jadoon, Punjab Cane Commissioner
- Sibt-ul-Hassan Shirazi, Food Secretary
This initiative reflects a significant commitment to enhancing sugarcane research and education in Pakistan, aiming to boost the agricultural sector’s productivity and sustainability.