technology in agriculture

Wheat is a cereal crop of immense importance to us, and the demand is fulfilled at the cost of soil poisoning and contamination through a number of pesticides, herbicides and excess of fertilizers. Zero tillage has become popular among the progressive farmers and serves as an economical method to conserve soil moisture, nutrients and labor force. Mulching on the other hand has benefits of conserving moisture in the field and others. Adaptive Research Farms, Gujranwala, Pakistan have published a three year field experiment study   to evaluate the possible merits of rice mulching in the zero tillage wheat fields. The outcome of the study are very promising and can be put to practical use. The research group evaluated that rice mulching in the field not only has its own merits but it also checks the weed growing in the field as well as improves the available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the field. The study was conducted over a period of 3 successive seasons (2008-2011) at the...

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important cereal crop in the world and leading staple food in most countries. In Pakistan, rice the second most important staple food of the people and in the past economic year 2012-13, it was cultivated over 2,311,000 hectares in Pakistan and its production was about 5,541,000 tonnes, according to economic survey of Pakistan 2012-13. Rice Fields Here we are going to present the outline of major diseases of rice in Pakistan and their pathogens. The details of these will be presented in the later articles on PakAgriFarming. Table: Table enlisting the major rice diseases occurring in Pakistan and their pathogens. Sr. No. Disease Pathogen 01. Bacterial Leaf Spot Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae 02. Bakanae Fusarium fujikuroi (anamorph) Syn: Fusarium moniliforme (anamorph) Gibberella fujikuroi (telomorph) 03. Blast disease of rice Pyriculari oryzae (anamorph) Magnaporthe grisea (telomorph) ...

Various factors are responsible for the efficiency of extension system but farmers' demands and their needs for advisory services are decisive factors in determining the effectiveness of extension services.  Demand-driven and need-based advisory services ensure the efficiency of extension system. Agriculture Extension (Need of Farmer Advisory Services in Punjab, Pakistan) - Cover Why we need Extension Services? The agriculture, being the second largest sector, plays a significant role in Pakistan's economy.  It accounts for 21 percent of GDP, and ranks first in contributing 45 percent to its total labor force .  About 62 percent of country�s population is directly or indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood.  The agriculture sector supplies raw materials to agro-processing industry.  It contributes substantially to Pakistan�s exports , and  A large market for agricultural inputs such as tractors, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. Desir...

Top Story Wheat, Rice & Sugar supplies are adequate: PARC Planning according to food security is included in our priorities � Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad PakAgriFarming News Week Vol. 04 (Cover) Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad has said that we are planning according to the requirements of food security in the country. He added that wheat, rice and sugar is available in adequate supplies in the countries at the moment and in the next phase we are attempting to introduce high yielding oilseed crops like olive in Baluchistan, FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan, AJK, D.I Khan and Sindh, for this purpose plants are being imported from Italy and machinery is also being imported from France for processing. PARC is also working to improve crop research on usage of sewage water from household and this has been successfully being attempted in Chak Shahzad in Islamabad. 10 research papers have been published on this research, lemon has showed very good...

Top Story Cotton Markets stable despite Energy Crisis The continued cuts in the supply of electricity and gas to the cotton mills will result in collapse of cotton industry: PCGA. PakAgriFarming News Week vol. 02 (Cover) Last week there was sudden breakdown of power supply to the cotton mills due to which there were piles of raw cotton in the stores and the purchase were static. Even in this situation the price of cotton did not drop and a slight increase was seen in the prices. Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has warned that if such situation prolongs there will be worse consequences to the cotton farmers because the mills will not be able to purchase if energy crisis continues. In the recent times, the gap of energy production has only widened and the government is not keen to solve the problems of the major sector of national economy. News 02 Urea and DAP sales up by 40% & 35% in 2012 Price incentives helped to keep the sale of urea and DAP at 445,000 and 248,000 tons...

Agricultural marketing involves all services that are employed in moving an agricultural produce from farm to the consumer and includes planning, sowing, harvesting, picking, grading, transporting, storage and processing, distribution, marketing and selling etc. Farmers threshing and Packing wheat grains Agricultural Marketing Information Market information generally refers to market price information, and in some cases includes information on quantities. Marketing information is a wider concept, including information on marketing channels, buyers, quality standards and so on. It includes information of all institutions, activities and functions to move agricultural produce from farm to consumer. Agencies Involved in the Information System 1. Agricultural and Livestock Products Marketing and Grading Department (ALPMGD), 2. The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) 3. The provincial government departments/agencies and trade associations and producer groups. Status of Agricultural Marketin...