Staff Reporter

FAISALABAD, OCT 13 /DNA/ – The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, has provided laboratory equipment and farm machinery to national agricultural research institutions to strengthen wheat breeding, improve seed processing and support the development of climate-resilient crop varieties.

The initiative was marked by the inauguration of a dedicated laboratory and working area at the Wheat Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, on Tuesday, as Pakistan and CIMMYT celebrate six decades of cooperation in wheat research and the exchange of genetic resources.

Under the initiative, three seed cleaner-cum-graders, 10 zero-tillage seed-cum-fertilizer drills and experimental threshing equipment are being provided to research partners. Laboratory facilities and working areas are also being upgraded at five institutions across the country.

The support includes digital weighing scales, seed counters, pH meters, vertical deep freezers, spectrophotometers and canopy temperature meters to improve the measurement, storage and analysis of research material and field data.

“Pakistan’s food security depends on strong research institutions and capacity building of our national scientists,” said Dr Javed Ahmad, Chief Scientist and Director of the Wheat Research Institute, AARI. He said the new facilities and equipment would help researchers address challenges facing wheat farmers and strengthen national crop improvement efforts.

The five institutions receiving laboratory and working-area support are the Wheat Research Institute in Faisalabad, Regional Agricultural Research Institute in Bahawalpur, National Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad, Barley and Wheat Research Institute in Tandojam, and Cereal Crops Research Institute in Nowshera.

Seed cleaner-cum-graders will help remove impurities and sort seeds according to size and thickness, improving seed purity and uniformity. The equipment is particularly important for institutions producing foundation seed of nutrient-enriched wheat varieties aimed at addressing micronutrient deficiencies.

Research threshers, including single-head, single-plant and Vogel threshers, will enable scientists to process individual wheat heads, small plant samples and experimental seed lots with less manual labour and reduced grain damage and losses.

The zero-tillage seed-cum-fertilizer drills will allow farmers and researchers to sow crops directly into untilled soil, reducing the need for conventional land preparation. The technology can conserve soil moisture, lower fuel and labour costs and facilitate timely sowing, particularly in rice-wheat cropping systems, where it can also help eliminate the need to burn rice residues.

Dr Flavio Breseghello, Director of CIMMYT’s Global Wheat Program, said reliable field trials and careful handling of breeding material were essential for wheat improvement. He said the equipment would help national research partners evaluate promising wheat lines and develop climate-resilient varieties for farmers.

The initiative, he added, reinforced the shared commitment to advancing wheat research and contributing to food security in Pakistan, a country of around 250 million people.

Dr Sajid Ali, CIMMYT Country Representative for Pakistan, said the organisation aimed to help national partners translate research into practical solutions for farmers. Improved facilities and equipment would complement efforts to expand seed access, strengthen scientific skills and promote data-driven decision-making and climate resilience, he added.

CIMMYT’s collaboration with Pakistan dates back to the 1960s and contributed to the Green Revolution through the exchange of germplasm, joint research and training for Pakistani scientists. The partnership continues to support the development of wheat and maize varieties with improved climate resilience, disease resistance and nutritional traits.

CIMMYT currently collaborates with 29 national partners in Pakistan, with its interventions reaching 88 districts. Its 2026 programme also includes the establishment of 21 community seed banks across 20 districts in all four provinces, alongside national and international training for Pakistani scientists.

Current research areas include biological nitrification inhibition to improve fertiliser-use efficiency and hybrid wheat research to explore potential productivity gains.

CIMMYT has also proposed establishing a Himalayan Agricultural Futures Centre, envisaged as an international research and screening facility headquartered in Islamabad. The proposed centre would help anticipate emerging crop disease threats, including yellow rust, and support agricultural research across Pakistan and the wider region.