Arid University Launches “Grow More Wheat” Drive to Boost Yields Across Rawalpindi Division
Rawalpindi: In a major initiative to strengthen Pakistan’s food security, the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) has launched a large-scale “Grow More Wheat” campaign across six districts of the Rawalpindi Division — Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Murree, and Talagang — in collaboration with the Directorate of Agriculture Extension, Government of Punjab.
The campaign, running from November 7 to 16, 2025, follows the direction of Punjab’s Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, who chaired a special meeting attended by Vice Chancellors of agricultural universities and senior officials from the Agriculture Department. He instructed that “all means should be utilized” to make the campaign effective and impactful for farmers.
Vice Chancellor PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, emphasized that wheat remains the backbone of Pakistan’s agriculture and a staple food of national importance. “Our goal is to guide farmers on improved sowing techniques, irrigation efficiency, and agronomic practices that can lead to higher yields,” he said. He reiterated that PMAS-AAUR, in partnership with the Punjab Government, is committed to equipping farmers with research-backed knowledge, technical training, and practical field support to ensure long-term sustainability and food security.
Director Agriculture (Extension) Rawalpindi, Syed Shahid Iftikhar Bukhari, said that the campaign’s advantages are far-reaching, noting that increased wheat production would significantly strengthen Pakistan’s economy. He described the initiative as a collective effort between government departments, universities, and the farming community to boost productivity and self-reliance in food crops.
Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Tariq Mukhtar, revealed that 45 field teams have been formed, comprising 450 agricultural students supervised by faculty and experts. These teams are visiting rural communities across all six districts to provide on-site demonstrations and farmer training on modern wheat cultivation techniques, soil fertility management, efficient water use, and the adoption of new agricultural machinery.
He added that this outreach connects academic research with real-world farming, allowing students to gain hands-on experience while helping farmers adopt science-based, modern cultivation practices. The initiative is expected to make a lasting impact on regional wheat production and serve as a model of collaborative agricultural extension in Punjab.
