Introduction

The Agricultural sector plays a crucial role in contributing 19-22% to the country's GDP, serving as an essential driver of economic growth, ensuring food security, fostering employment generation, and alleviating poverty. Employing approximately 38.5% of the labor force, this sector faces challenges such as diminishing arable land, climate change impacts, water shortages, the necessity to feed a large population, and the ongoing shift of labor from rural to urban areas. Despite these constraints, the sector remains indispensable for the nation's overall development.

            Agricultural research is tasked with the development of novel and enhanced crop varieties. In the fiscal year 2022-23, the Provincial Seed Council approved a noteworthy array of new varieties, including eight (08) for wheat, three (03) for rice, one (01) for maize, one (01) for barley, four (04) for pulses and legumes, one (01) for mustard, and an additional eight (8) varieties for various fruits. This signifies a commitment to advancing agricultural practices and ensuring a diverse and resilient crop portfolio.

            A total of 532 experimental trials were carried out on a diverse range of crops, vegetables, and fruits, encompassing 148 trials on wheat, 30 on rice, 47 on maize, 25 on sugarcane, 2 on sugarbeet, 105 on legumes and pulses, 39 on oilseed, 70 on fruits, and 66 on vegetables. To enhance agricultural productivity, the adoption of BNS (Breeder, Nucleus, and Seed), Pre-basic, Basic, and certified wheat seeds is essential. In the fiscal year 2022-23, Agriculture Research successfully produced 316.12 tons of wheat seeds and 33.4 tons of maize seeds, contributing to the ongoing efforts to bolster seed availability and quality in the agricultural sector.

Throughout the year, 14 pamphlets highlighting newly approved varieties of Wheat, Maize, Pear, Pulses, and rice crops were published and distributed to Research Institutes/Stations, extension workers, and farmers. This initiative aimed to encourage the adoption of improved technologies and crop varieties to enhance crop production in their fields. Additionally, 42 articles covering various aspects of agriculture were submitted to the Bureau of Agriculture Information, Agriculture Extension for publication in the Monthly Zarat Nama.

Moreover, 90 radio talks were successfully broadcasted on Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, through the "Karkeela and Karwanda Programs (Pushto)." These programs served as valuable sources of education and information for farmers, focusing on improved production technology. Lastly, in the same year, agriculture scientists provided supervision for 29 students, contributing to the education and development of future professionals in the field of agriculture.

Currently, Agriculture Research has 15 projects in the pipeline, comprising 6 Annual Development Program (ADP) schemes, 5 Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) initiatives, 3 Agriculture Linkage Program (ALP) projects, and 1 Agriculture Innovation Program (AIP). These projects encompass a diverse range of activities and initiatives aimed at advancing research, development, and innovation in the agricultural sector, contributing to the overall growth and sustainability of the agricultural industry.