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Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Hosted the 4th International Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture in Collaboration with PHEC and FAO
Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan (MNSUAM), organized the 4th International Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture in collaboration with the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The two-day conference was themed “Climate-Smart Agriculture: The Way Towards Sustainable Food Security.”
The conference was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor of MNSUAM, Prof. Dr. Asif Ali (T.I.). In his inaugural address, he highlighted the importance of the conference in addressing the pressing challenges facing the agricultural sector. He emphasized that the discussions and recommendations emerging from the conference must be translated into practical actions and that scientific knowledge should be effectively disseminated to farmers. He further stated that MNSUAM, through the dedicated efforts of its research team, is working tirelessly to promote modern wheat and cotton production technologies.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akmal, Chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation, attended the conference as a distinguished guest. He underscored the importance of practical, field-oriented research in addressing Pakistan’s agricultural challenges and strengthening the country’s research and innovation capacity. Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of Ghazi University, attended as a guest of honour. He highlighted climate change as one of the major challenges facing Pakistan and stressed the need for coordinated efforts across all agricultural disciplines to develop effective solutions and strengthen climate resilience.
Prof. Malik Amanullah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Faisalabad and an expert in horticulture, emphasized Pakistan’s considerable potential to produce high-quality fruits. He stressed the importance of improving fruit quality, production standards, and competitiveness to meet international market requirements. Dr. Zaheer Ahmed Babar, Director General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), also attended the conference as a distinguished guest. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between meteorological and agricultural institutions in addressing climate-related challenges. He noted that PMD collaborates with MNSUAM to issue weather-based agricultural advisories for farmers in Southern Punjab, helping them make informed decisions in response to changing weather conditions.
The conference provided a valuable platform for national and international researchers to present their scientific findings and exchange knowledge on climate-smart agriculture. A total of 110 research papers were presented by 61 scientists, including 17 international researchers. The presentations and discussions focused on scientific innovations and practical approaches to improving agricultural productivity, resource-use efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainable food security.
The Department of Agronomy at MNSUAM organized the conference for the fourth time in collaboration with FAO and PHEC, reflecting its continued commitment to promoting climate-smart agricultural practices through research, knowledge sharing, and institutional partnerships. The FAO team remained at the University throughout the conference and actively participated in its activities.
At the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Hamad Nadeem Tahir, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, appreciated the efforts of the organizers, participating scientists, and collaborating institutions. He emphasized that the recommendations and outcomes of the conference should be translated into practical initiatives to benefit farmers and strengthen agricultural sustainability.
Prof. Dr. Abdul Ghaffar, Chairman of the Department of Agronomy, expressed his gratitude to all distinguished guests, national and international participants, collaborating institutions, and members of the organizing team for their valuable contributions to the conference’s success. He acknowledged the support of PHEC, FAO, and local agricultural companies that contributed to the event in various capacities. He also appreciated Dr. Mohkum Hammad for playing a leading role in organizing and successfully conducting the conference.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening research collaboration, promoting climate-smart agricultural technologies, and translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions for farmers. These efforts aim to enhance agricultural resilience, improve resource-use efficiency, and ensure sustainable food security in Pakistan.
