FAISALABAD March 6, 2023: D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Secretary General Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam has said that D-8 countries should enhance their collaboration and pace up efforts to ensure food and nutrition security in the situation where climate changes were playing havoc with the lives and agriculture sector. He addressed in the inaugural session of a two-days international conference on food security challenges and opportunities in D-8 countries arranged by Center for Advanced Studies(CAS) D-8 Research Centre, University of Agriculture Faisalabad as chief guest. He along with the UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) President Dr. Kallid Mehmood, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative Florence Rolle, Dean Faculty of Agriculture Dr. Muhammad Sarwar Khan, CAS Director Prof. Dr. Sultan Habibullah and others inaugurated CAS as D-8 Center for Agriculture and Food Security. He said that they were committed to strengthen economic cooperation among member countries to boost economic growth, sustainable uplift and promote well-being of the people.

They have focused on priority areas including agriculture, trade, transportation, industry, energy and tourism whereas health, ICT and human development has also been added.

D-8 countries in total account for almost 4 trillion dollars of GDP, 1.6 trillion dollars of export and 110 billion dollars of intra-trade. But the real novelty of D-8 is that it is home to 1.1 billion people, meaning one in every seven people in the world is living in D-8. This comes with remarkable cultural diversity, economic strengths, natural resources, creativity, innovation, and big opportunities for the future generations. He lauded the efforts of UAF for the uplift of the agriculture sector.

UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the countries should enhance their cooperation in agriculture and food security. He added that under the CAS, the work on the new heat tolerant varieitis of the wheat, soybean and other crops were underway. He added that they were coping with the food security issue for which enhanced coloration will bring tangible results to fight challenges. He said that One Health is the need of the hour as it is an approach for the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment.

FAO representative Florence Rolle said that the three elements including strengthened Research and Development; farmers cooperatives; and viable credit system for the farming community was essential to address the food security challenges in the countries. She lauded the UAF for sending the 30,000 students in the wheat campaign.

Dr. Khalid Mehmood that PAS has mapped out a program for the One Health in which UAF should come forward as partner for advocacy and research work whereas the NIH was also working on the project. He said Pakistan was housing the most of the small farmers who can’t afford the mechanization for them. We have to devise a plan.

Prof. Dr. Sultan Habibullah said that the declaration of D-8 Research Center in UAF was a hallmark that would help combat the food insecurity challenges of the countries. Other notables also spoke on the occasion.

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