Engro sets up centre to boost agriculture sector

KARACHI: The Engro Fertilizers Limited (EFL) inaugurated the first Engro Learning Centre to strengthen academia-industry linkage and boost agricultural productivity, a statement said on Thursday.

EFL established and formally inaugurated a solar-powered Engro Learning Centre at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, it added.

A memorandum of collaboration was signed between Engro Fertilisers and University of Agriculture Faisalabad to conduct research and development projects for improving crop yields, food quality, farmer profitability and outreach programs, and capacity-building of the University’s students.

This academia-industry partnership is aimed at bringing together expertise from both sectors to develop innovative solutions and skill-based programs that will uplift the agricultural sector of Pakistan.

Spread over two acres, the centre includes a research facility, training hall, an office and agri-input storage facility.

Punjab Minister of Agriculture Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi inaugurated the centre along with Engro Fertilizers chief executive officer Nadir S Qureshi, and Dr Iqrar A Khan, vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

“Engro Fertilizers is passionate about transforming the agricultural landscape, bringing change, and empowering the farmer community, a goal that can be achieved through such model industry and academia partnerships,” Nadir Qureshi said.

“The Engro Learning Centre will prove to be a step in the right direction to equip farmers with knowledge on modern practices and technology that can help boost farm economics and bolster food security in Pakistan.”

“It is our fervent hope that it becomes a platform for agricultural growth so that Pakistan becomes not only self-sufficient in nutrition, but an export-house of agriculture as it was thirty to forty years ago and reclaims its title as the ‘Granary of Asia’,” he added.

Chief Commercial Officer of Engro Fertilisers, Khusrau Nadir Gilani added that this partnership will enhance the skills of young agrarians and support the development of new technologies to provide sustainable “seed to harvest solutions” to the farmers.

With this support, the farmers will be able to thrive by improving their crop yields, quality, and profitability, to ultimately achieve the goal of building a more food secure Pakistan. The centre will provide the knowledge and experience which will set the ground for Engro Fertilisers to collaborate with more universities in the future.

Dr Iqrar A Khan stated: “Academia-industry linkages to commercialise technologies and conduct outreach programmes is the need of the hour. I extend my gratitude to Engro Fertilisers for their initiative to promote agri innovation and for stepping up as a key leader in the transformation of the agricultural sector.”