Vegetable research programme for 2026-27 approved with 169 experiments

Key Points:

Vegetable section’s annual research programme 2026-27 approved with 169 experiments
PARB chief executive calls local hybrid varieties the top need amid climate change
Per capita vegetable use in Pakistan only 195 grams against WHO advice of 350 to 400 grams

FAISALABAD: The Vegetable Research Institute’s annual research programme for 2026-27, carrying 169 experiments, was formally approved at a meeting at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) on Thursday, officials said.

The programme, approved with some technical amendments after detailed discussion, carries 11 experiments on onion, 14 on tomato, nine on brinjal, nine on chillies and eight on plant protection, according to a press release issued by the Directorate of Agricultural Information, Faisalabad.

Vegetable research programme 2026-27: 169 experiments approved at AARI Faisalabad.

Chairing the meeting, AARI Chief Scientist Dr Sajid ur Rahman said the use of modern technology was indispensable to meet the country’s food needs.

He said the Vegetable Research Institute’s research on new varieties and seed production was of international standard and commendable, adding that scientists must play a role to ensure food security and discover varieties with production potential.

Punjab Agricultural Research Board Chief Executive Dr Abid Mahmood said increasing per-acre vegetable production and promoting local hybrid varieties was the most important need of the time amid climate challenges and a growing population.

He urged agricultural scientists to use all resources to bring innovation into research and to play a frontline role in introducing high-yielding hybrid vegetable varieties.

Former director vegetables Muhammad Najeeb Ullah praised the programme and gave useful technical suggestions, while Dr Muhammad Iqbal also attended.

He urged experts to develop hybrid and general varieties in view of the changing weather, saying locally produced seed alone guaranteed the country’s food security.

Agricultural scientist Dr Sajid Iqbal Sandhu, who specially attended, praised the proposed programme and stressed foreign training to raise scientists’ technical capacity.

Briefing the meeting, Principal Scientist (Vegetables) Aamir Latif said the institute’s cultivated area was 152.5 acres, including research stations at Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Karor, Raiwind and Piplan.

Since its establishment, the institute has introduced 83 varieties including hybrids — tomato Nadir, Naqeeb and Samar F1, onion Sultan, White Pearl and Golden King, ginger ARI Ginger 2023, okra Hari Bhari and cucumber Kheera Local.

The institute holds 1,738 germplasm accessions of different vegetables, on which research continues with modern technology; peas, he noted, contained abundant protein and were the best and cheapest substitute for meat.

Vegetable Research Institute Faisalabad has introduced 83 varieties and holds 1,738 germplasm accessions.

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Mr Latif said per capita vegetable consumption in Pakistan was only 195 grams a day against the World Health Organisation recommendation of 350 to 400 grams, which caused health problems.

Pakistan per capita vegetable consumption is 195 grams a day against the WHO recommendation of 350 to 400 grams.

Vegetables contain vitamins A and C, thiamine, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and fibre. Their regular use helps build immunity against lung cancer, diabetes, hepatitis and heart diseases, he added.

Vegetables contain vitamins A and C, thiamine, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and fibre.

Directors Dr Javed Ahmad (wheat research), Dr Khalid Mahmood (pulses), Dr Hafiz Bashir Ahmad (oilseeds), Dr Muhammad Abrar (post-harvest), Malik Mohsin Abbas (horticulture), Dr Muhammad Abid (soil science) and Shakira Jamil (biotechnology) also attended.

NARC social sciences director Dr Muhammad Arshad, University of Agriculture Faisalabad plant breeding and genetics chairman Prof Dr Azeem Iqbal and Director Agricultural Information Dr Asif Ali were also present.

Progressive growers Aamir Shahzad and Rana Muhammad Khan, representatives of private seed companies and a large number of agricultural scientists attended, while the vegetable section team presented its research programme.