Important Achievement

A three-day International Webinar and Workshop on Aquaponic Farming was organized under Higher Education Commission Technology Development Fund Project from 23-25th February, 2021. This event was the first research oriented joint venture of the Department of Botany and Zoology, GCWUF. More than 400 participants and speakers from Pakistan, Turkey, UK, Bangladesh, UAE, Morocco and Egypt attended the webinar session held on 23rd February and showed keen interest in development of Aquaponic Technology. Notable speakers included Prof. Dr. Naureen Aziz Qureshi, Prof. Dr. M.A. Salam, Mr. Salman Farooq, Dr. Turker BODUR and Dr. Sajid Iqbal Sandhu. Webinar started with an overview of the activity by Dr Ambreen Khadija Alvi, Chief Organizer. She acknowledged the contribution of HEC in bridging the gap between academia and industry. She advocated the potential of Aquaponics in Agri farming and Agri entrepreneurship specially for developing countries like Pakistan. She highlighted the economic as well as ecological benefits of Aquaponic farming. Participants were also updated about successful running of Aquaponic set up established in GCWUF under HEC funded TDF02-178 project worth Rs 6.4 million. Professor Dr. Robina Farooq, worthy Vice Chancellor, GCWUF emphasized the need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. She encouraged the use of organic food and commended the Aquaponics Research Team on organizing an international level event on this innovative technology. The formal session started with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Naureen Aziz Qureshi, Ex-Vice Chancellor, GCWUF, who elaborated the situation of food security and opportunities of Aquaculture in solving these issues. This was followed by Prof. Dr. M. A. Salam talk on the components of a sustainable Aquaponic system. Mr. Salman Farooq discussed the entrepreneurship potential of Aquaponics. Dr. Turker BODUR provided technical information regarding the working of a balanced Aquaponic system. The last speaker Dr. Sajid Iqbal Sandhu enlightened the participants about how Agri-Tourism plays an effective role in promoting Aquaponics in Pakistan. Dr. Zill I Huma Nazli, Coordinator, Faculty of Science and Technology appreciated the efforts of the organizing team and concluded the session with a note of thanks. Activities of 2nd and 3rd Day, i.e., 24th and 25th February, 2021 included Hand-on Training of running an aquaponic system. Technical session was physically attended by more than 200 participants divided in small groups observing SOPs of covid-19. The resource persons Dr Ambreen Khadija Alvi and Dr Safina Kousar gave demonstrations to the participants on various aspects of Aquaponics. The participants were taught how to prepare seedlings and media beds, measurement of water quality parameters, fish management in the system and demonstration of a working Aquaponic system. Overwhelming responses from participants encouraged the organizing team to arrange similar activities in future as well.