'Developed countries in the comity of nations are looking for new galaxies in solar system while here a search is going on for water, flour, sometimes electricity and security. Punjab Chief Minister Dost Muhammad Khosa averred this while inaugurating the inaugural session of International Livestock and Poultry Congress here on Tuesday.

The world has witnessed gigantic advancement in the field of molecular genetics, and recombinant DNA has opened vast opportunities in agriculture, medicine, industry and environment protection. Advanced countries are harnessing the benefits of the technology.

A five-day international training workshop on "Organic farming, organic production and inspection" has started here on Monday. The event was jointly organised by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc), Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) and National Productivity Organisation (NPO) Pakistan.

The Basmati Growers Association, protesting rumours of ban on rice export has urged the government to stay away from interfering in the rice trade. The Association's President, Chaudhry Hamid Malhi fears that at the time of sowing of paddy such a step could result in lesser production. He said that rice production in the country was double of domestic requirements. Malhi said that pressing of rice price would only damage the farmers as how they would meet the increasing cost of production. He claimed that seven million farming families were attached with rice growing besides businessmen.

Wheat crisis in southern Punjab has compelled the people to use substandard flour, resulting in different stomach diseases. 25,000 tons imported wheat has reached in Multan but due to its poor quality, the officials of food department have refused to unload it. Besides, the flourmills have also refused to purchase this imported wheat.

The government told the National Assembly on Friday that agriculture sector would be provided incentives to increase indigenous production of edible oil as this was the only way to address the rising prices of ghee and cooking oil. Minister for Ports and Shipping Naveed Qamar said that cooking oil and ghee prices were increasing in Pakistan owing to high palm oil cost in the international marker. The local production of oilseeds would be increased with special focus on coastal areas to become less dependent on import of palm oil, he added.

The responsibilities of agriculture scientists and researchers have been underlined to cope with the present flour crises. It is the need of the hour to design a multi-dimensional strategy to over come the crisis with solid mechanism for obtaining maximum yield potential of agricultural and livestock products.

The government on Thursday expressed inability to control a deepening supply-and-price crisis of wheat in one go and told the National Assembly it would adopt a phased approach to deal with the catastrophe triggering civil unrest now.

World Bank is considering to provide 30 million dollars grant for improvement in water resources management and development in Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). According to official sources, the Wapda will co-ordinate the large investments in water projects and to expand the electricity network across Pakistan.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday reviewed the progress of on-going mega water projects. Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Shakeel Durrani, in a presentation, informed the Minister about the progress on on-going hydel power projects.