Soil and Water Conservation Services A dry, barren, often sand covered area of land is waterless and without vegetation cover. The common features of such land are; low precipitation, high temperature, high evaporation, low humidity, poor rain water efficiency, water percolation and low productivity. These lands are called Barani and arid lands but still are […]
Water Resources Development Services Timely and adequate availability of water is extremely important and pre-requisite to increase agricultural production. The horizontal expansion in cultivated area and increased cropping intensity has resulted in a net irrigation water deficit of about 50%. In order to meet the growing irrigation water demand, the surface water supplies is supplemented […]
Activities & Services Land Resources Development Services A culturable waste land of approximately 3.924 million acres is available for development in Punjab which is 12.80% of cultivated area. For the purpose of horizontal expansion of land resources, a fleet of 345 bulldozers are available with field wing for the following land development activities; Development of culturable […]
Agricultural Field The historical background of farm mechanization in Pakistan has been tracked back to the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture (1928) in which the commission had recognized the need for replacing the bullocks with tractor but stressed upon the need for proper research on different aspects of mechanization. As a result of […]
Influence of Feed Form and Source of Soybean Meal on Growth Performance of Broilers A new study from Spain shows that pelleting improves the performance of broilers up to 42 days of age, and that the source of soybean meal – US, Brazil or Argentina – can also have a significant impact on growth. In […]
Plant Based Nutrients vs Animal Based Nutrients Many people think that eating solely plant based food is not healthy and are still convinced that meat, dairy, fish and eggs are necessary part of our diet. Often when they learn that somebody is vegan; the immediate reaction is to question how on earth they get their […]
Basics of Lactic Acid Fermentation Sauerkraut is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to lactic acid fermented foods. What is Lactic Acid Fermentation, and why would we want to know anything about it?Here’s a scientific definition:Lactic Acid Fermentation is a biological process by which sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose are […]
Recovery of Cereals for Foods In 2011, the Extensive Crops team of the IRTA (Institute of Food and Agricultural Research and Technology), of the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Catalonia, has coordinated the implementation of the project ‘Model for the recovery and use of cultivated biodiversity for the preparation of food products with […]
The Dangers of Raw Milk: Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk Milk and milk products provide a wealth of nutrition benefits. But raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to you and your family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800 people in […]
Nutraceutical: the medicinal foods Nutraceutical: the medicinal foods Authors: Hammad Shafiq1*, Saba Fiaz1, Humayun Haseeb Baig1, Muhammad Kaleem1, Ahmad Mahmood2, Rameez Hassan1 1 Department of Food Technology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 2 Department of Agronomy, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi Abstract Nutraceutical are important part of food which have both health promoting and disease prevention effects. There […]
Food for thought Gangtok: Sikkim, which started eco-friendly farming from a small area of land about a decade ago, is set to become a fully organic state by 2015, a senior state official has said. “The entire state will be converted into a certified organic state by 2015. Our schemes and policies are well tuned […]
Punjab Mills to provide 10,000 tons of sugar @ Rs 48 per kg Punjab sugar mills will give 10,000 tons of sugar to Punjab government at Rs 48 per kg which the government will sell at Rs 51 per kg to help poor strata of the society during the holy month of Ramazan. It was […]
Major Crops of Pakistan In pakistan, farm production is dominated by a few crops which account for almost 60 percent of GDP from agriculture. Cropping systems vary widely because of variations in agro-climatic and soil conditions. Wheat is the major winter crop in all regions of the country. In summer, rice, cotton, and maize are grown in areas suitable […]
Classification Of Field Crops The importance of classification All objects are named and classified for practical purposes. Human beings, animals, birds, and insects have special names and classes. Even non-living entities have their names and classes. A special set of terms and names is associated with every business, trade, andprofession. Crop plants are no exception. […]
Forest Based Poverty Alleviation Forest based poverty alleviation(FBPA) is an encompassing term where forest resources are used to avoid or eliminate poverty.FBPA is not a stand alone process. forests and trees play an important role in alleviation of poverty with so many aspects following are the aspects discussed to encounter poverty. 1-FIRE WOOD As we know […]
Role of seed in crop production Seed plays a key role in increasing food and fibre production to meet the increasing demands of the people, and is a focus around which strategies to boost crop yields can be built. Silvey (1981) estimated that wheat yields in England and Wales increased by 105% within 30 years, […]
Introduction of Asian Ladybugs Into Europe Serious Mistake, Experts Say In retrospect, introducing the Asian ladybird into Europe was a serious mistake. The insect was introduced some twenty years ago in a conscious attempt to combat aphids. But research carried out at Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) into the invasion of this foreign insect […]
Monsoon: Ongoing rain spell a boon for Potohar farmers ISLAMABAD:The ongoing spell of rains, which has brought relief from the heat for residents of the twin cities, will also benefit farmers of the Potohar region. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) National Agromet Centre Director Dr Khalid Mahmood Malik said rains at this time of the summer […]
Objectives of cultivar improvement Breeders and agronomists have certain objectives in mind for crop improvement These objectives are to: Evolve cuItivars with increased yield by obtaining the optimum combination of yield components such as number of reproductive units per unit area, number of seeds per reproductive unit, and weight per seed. Tailor crop maturity to […]
MIRI Method Reduces Water Use In Rice Field Tests Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and cooperating scientists are studying a system that, in rice field tests, cuts water use by 24 percent.Rice, one of the world’s most important foods, is a labor-intensive crop that also requires plenty of water. Often, water pumped to flood rice fields […]