Faisalabad, April 10, 2025:
The Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) organized a national training workshop focused on promoting castor bean (Rend) cultivation in the wake of climate change challenges.
Chief guest Dr. Masood Iqbal, Member Science at Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), highlighted the peaceful use of nuclear technology in agriculture, energy, health, and food. He said PAEC’s four agricultural research institutes have introduced 159 crop varieties to date, with 68 currently under cultivation across the country.
NIAB Director Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Saleem explained that the workshop aimed to transfer modern techniques to farmers to boost castor bean yields. NIAB’s castor varieties can yield up to 100 maunds per acre within just 140 days.
Field visits showcased NIAB Gold, NIAB Spineless, and NIAB Castor 2023—climate-resilient and high-yielding varieties. Progressive farmers were also provided with pre-basic seeds at the workshop’s conclusion.
The event saw participation from around 400 stakeholders including exporters, seed companies, industrialists, academics, and international guests from the UK, Oman, and South Korea. Former federal ministers Syed Asghar Ali Shah and Dr. Sohail Zafar also addressed the attendees.
Castor bean is not only an oil crop but also has applications in pharmaceuticals and biofuel, making NIAB’s initiative a significant step in climate-smart agriculture.
