On March 22, 2023, the U.S. Consul General William K. Makaneole, based at the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan, met with Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, a Fulbright alumni and Chairman at the Barani Agriculture Research institute (BARI) in Chakwal.
Dr. Iqbal is a renowned agricultural scientist who has been leading the team at BARI, which is pioneering olive production and other agricultural innovations in the region. The meeting between Consul General Makaneole and Dr. Iqbal was an opportunity to discuss the current state of agriculture in Pakistan and the potential for collaboration between the U.S. and Pakistan in this field.
The Barani Agriculture Research institute (BARI) is a leading research institute in Pakistan, focused on promoting agriculture and improving the livelihoods of farmers in the country. One of the major initiatives that Dr. Iqbal and his team are leading at BARI is the development of olive production in Pakistan.
Olive production is a relatively new concept in Pakistan, and Dr. Iqbal and his team have been working on developing the necessary infrastructure and expertise to promote this crop. The hope is that olive production will not only provide a new source of income for farmers but also help to combat desertification in the region.
During the meeting with Consul General Makaneole, Dr. Iqbal highlighted the importance of collaboration between the U.S. and Pakistan in the field of agriculture. The U.S. is a world leader in agricultural research and technology, and there is a lot that Pakistan can learn from the U.S. in this field.
In addition to olive production, Dr. Iqbal and his team at BARI are also working on other agricultural innovations such as the development of drought-resistant crops and the use of precision agriculture techniques. These innovations have the potential to transform agriculture in Pakistan and help to ensure food security for the growing population.
The meeting between Consul General Makaneole and Dr. Iqbal was a positive step towards promoting collaboration between the U.S. and Pakistan in the field of agriculture. With the support of the U.S. government and the expertise of scientists like Dr. Iqbal, there is a lot of potential for Pakistan to become a leader in sustainable agriculture.
