Research

Research is an imperative to bring about the technical change that is crucial to the success of agriculture in the challenging environment that exists today. Research deters wastage as certainty of information replaces wasteful trials that deplete resources. Similarly, with as most inputs in agriculture are inelastic and face depletion, research allows for more targeted use of resources without a consequent decline in output.

In Pakistan, even as research institutions were established to materially enhance the productivity potential of farming activity, successes in research did not coincide with a corresponding increase in agricultural productivity as adoption of modern techniques and promising new varieties of seeds, remained low.

All over the world, sustainable agricultural systems have transitioned from resource oriented systems to knowledge centric systems, while the converse has remained true in the case of Pakistan. One of the major reasons for this prevailing situation has been the lack of institutional support for this research as farmers, particularly small farmers, lack the wherewithal for independently implementing science based techniques.

More recently, other concerns are being voiced with regard to the impact of wide-scale agriculture growth. For instance, the effects of pesticides on the natural environment as well as on the health and well-being of farm workers and consumers began to be investigated. Similar investigations began to demonstrate that long established practices like tilling were in effect harmful for the soil in the long term stripping it of its natural mineral rich composition. Depletion of ground water gave rise to calls for conservation through responsible use. The challenge for agricultural research is twofold: to enable the grower to achieve maximum growth potential and to avoid practices that result in the depletion or degradation of natural resources.

Cognizant of the prevailing needs in the sector, Fidak Farms believes that the situation demands action on the part of all stakeholders and has a dedicated wing to support research based interventions.

Wheat Seed

There is tremendous unrealized potential in the cultivation of wheat, an integral part of staple diet, particularly in this part o f the world. Under proper irrigation conditions, improved wheat cultivars available in Pakistan have the genetic potential of yielding 8.0 tonnes per hectare. By contrast, progressive wheat growers of irrigated area are getting grain yield of 5-7 tonnes per hectare. During the 2017-18 season, Pakistan produced 25.50 million tons of wheat from a total area of 8.97 million hectare demonstrating the average productivity of 2.84 t/ha. India, on the other hand has projected a record wheat production for the third year running with estimates as high as 100 tonnes for the FY 2019-20.

Wheat is one of the primary crops at Fidak Farms and while field research is ongoing for the development of a high yielding variety, preliminary findings have been very encouraging.

Ultra High Density Mango Plantation

One of the pioneers in orchard research, Fidak Farms is currently experimenting with the plantation of ultra high density mango and has devoted a significant portion of land for the purpose. Fruit from orchards represent high value crops for farmers where geographical and climactic conditions are favourable. High density mango orchards offer a number of advantages such as a smaller gestation period, decreased burden on irrigation sources, and optimal use of fertilizers while at the same time resulting in yield up to three times higher than a traditional orchard. While

Chickpea Seed Development

A major portion of agricultural land in Pakistan has been declared arid or semi arid. Such conditions are suited for the cultivation of chickpea crop which is used widely across the country and is popular all over the globe. Fidak Farms has benefited from the research conducted by the Ard Zone Research Institute (AZRI) in Bhakkar, and is actively developing its own variety of chickpea seed with optimum yield potential.