Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

Introduction
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, the apex national organization in the field of agricultural research in Pakistan, undertakes all the tasks related to the field. The Councial works in close co-operation with other federal and provincial institutions in the country to complete its following duties:

To undertake, aid, promote and coordinate agricultural research; To arrange the expeditious utilization of the research results; To establish research establishments mainly to fill in the gap in existing programme of agricultural research; To arrange the training of high level scientific manpower in agricultural sciences; To generate, acquire and disseminate information relating to agriculture; To establish and maintain a reference and research library; and To perform any other functions related to the matters aforesaid.

Board of Governors
Highest body of research planning, co-ordination, budget and policy formulation in the Pakistan Agricultural Council is the Board of Governors (BOG). The Board is the apex body of matters relating to research planning, coordination, budget and policy formulation,. Previously, the BOG had three Standing Committees, namely, Policy Advisory Committee, Agri. Business Relations Committee and Budget Committee and Programme Committee carry out a detailed review of PARC research programmes, identify areas of mutual interest, national researchable issues and point out deficiencies in the research programmes, if any.

The provincial Secretaries of Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry Departments, Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and farmers/endusers are represented on the PARC Board of Governors (BOG). There are three BOG sub-committees viz; Policy and Program Committee, Agri-Business Relations Committee and Budget Committee. Provincial Directors-General of Research and Deans of Sciences/Biological Sciences of all the general universities are represented on these Committees. The collaboration has been further institutionalized by PARC through the form of eight Technical Committees. The provincial Director Generals/Directors of Research/Extension Departments, University Professors as well as progressive farmers are represented on these Technical Committees.

Agriculture in the Economy of Pakistan
Agriculture had always been the dominant sector in the economy of Pakistan, contributing 53% of the gross domestic product. With the growth of the manufacturing and services sectors, agriculture’s share in the GDP has divedconsiderably. Still, agriculture remains the largest single contributor to the GDP at close to 26%. Average agricultural growth has been faster than the rate of increase in population. In real terms, agriculture’s contribution to the GDP may be greater, since domestic prices for agricultural outputs are distorted by a pricing policy which generally favors consumer. The agricultural sector employs 54% of the labor force and accounts for about three-fourth of the total foreign exchange earnings from exports. The sector supplies many of the major industries with raw materials and consumes 33% of the industrial finished goods. In terms of contribution to national income, employment, markets for industry, and supply of raw materials or products for export, agriculture remains the foundation of Pakistan’s economy. Impact of Research
Research has been instrumental in bringing about considerable change in agriculture of Pakistan. Since the decade of 1960, the area of wheat under high yielding varieties has increased to 86% of the total area sown. This metamorphosis of agriculture has caused complete turnover of the new varieties introduced. In 1973-74, the semi-dwarf Mexi-Pak wheat was planted on 56% of the sown area. Since then, varieties introduced after the research have taken over and they now cover nearly 80% of the sown area.

Scientists have recorded considerable success in other crops too. The area under IRRI rice has gone up to 36% of the area in face of strong competition from basmati rice, which is more popular and higher priced. Improved varieties of cotton are produced throughout nearly all of Pakistan. Out of 2.26 million hectares in cotton in 1982-83, Pak-Upland cotton was planted on 2.10 million the area planted. yet the national results of many research programmes are not as successful as one would have desired. Wheat has demonstrated a steady yield increase of 3% per year through the 1970s and into the 1980s. But average yields of rice, cotton, maize, and sugarcane have only gone up marginally in the same period.

In nut and shell, the position of the Pakistan agriculture would have been much worse if the new high yielding, disease-resistant varieties had not been come into being. Research, therefore, has the important role of anticipating and countering any unfavourable changes in the biological status of Pakistan agriculture.

Another exhibition of improvement in crop yields comes from the constraints research programme conducted in recent years. These trials on the fields were organised to show the contrast between farmer practices and recommended practices. A typical demonstration would compare the farmers levels of fertilizer, his weeding practices, and the traditional variety he has always grown with researched ways. Coordination via PARC Federal/Provincial
PARC carries out its tasks in close co-ordination with the provincial research institutes and the universities. Thirteen national coordinated research programs on different crop commodities are being implemented by PARC at the national level in collaboration with the provincial/federal research/education institutions and these provide yet another mechanism for strengthening the linkages between PARC and the provincial research/education. In addition, PARC also sponsors research in the provincial institutions on priority problems through contract research projects which are implemented by scientists of provincial institutes and universities. The seminars/conferences and national meetings organized by PARC are also attended by the provincial institutions.

Organization and Research Institutes
Division of PARC

Crops Sciences Division Director, Crop Production Director, Crop Protection Director, Horticulture Crop	Natural Resources Division Director, Range Management and Forestry Director, Land and Water Resources Director, Environment
Animal Sciences Division Director, Animal Production Director, Animal Health Director, Fisheries	Social Sciences Division Director, Agricultural Economics Director, Agricultural Business Provincial Agricultural Economics Research Units

National Agricultural Research Centre P.O. NARC, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan Fax: 92-51-240909 Sustainable Agricultural Research Institute Agricultural Biotechnology Agricultural Communication Institute Animal Health Research Institute Animal Nutrition Research Institute Animal Production Research Institute Aquaculture & Fisheries Research Institute Audio-Visual Communication Crop Research Institute Directorate of Publication Ecotoxicoloty Labs Farm Machinery Institute Food and Nutrition Lab. Honey Bee Research Institute Horticulture Research Institute Integrated Pest Management Research Institute Livestock Research Station National Tea Research Institute, Shinkiari Oilseed Research Institute Plant Genetic Resources Institute Pulses Research Institute Range Research Institute Federal Institute at Provinces Arid Zone Research Institute, Quetta Arid Zone Research Station, Bahawalpur