PSDF and UAF to Collaborate on Capacity Building and Skill Enhancement
Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) and University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) will collaborate on capacity building and skill enhancement for the farming community in various agricultural domains under the PSDF’s Skills for Agriculture and Green Environment (SAGE) program.
This was discussed at a meeting between Head of Program Design Mirza Akbar Hussain and PSDF Chief Financial Officer Syed Farrukh Jafri with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali in the Syndicate Room, UAF.
During the meeting, both sides explored the launch of specialized short courses targeted towards youth and farmers. These courses will cover areas like:
- Seed technology
- Livestock management
- Irrigation
- Fertilizer applications
- Climate-smart practices
- Water management
- Renewable energy integrations
Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, UAF Vice Chancellor, emphasized the need to equip rural youth and farmers with modern technical skills to tackle ongoing challenges in production, climate resilience, and resource efficiency. He highlighted that partnerships like these with organizations such as PSDF are crucial for translating scientific research into field-level practices, thereby increasing per acre yields.
Mirza Akbar Hussain, Head of Program Design, stated that the SAGE program aims to train and certify 20,000 youth in priority green trades across Punjab, aligning skills development with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national green policies. He added that PSDF seeks to strengthen pathways into emerging green agriculture opportunities while building a skilled, climate-resilient workforce in Punjab through SAGE.