Meeting on Performance of Sugar Beet Varieties under Saline Sodic Soil (30 October2017)

With reference to worthy Secretary Agriculture directions to immediately start studies on performance of Sugar beet varieties under saline sodic soils at Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian and with the involvement of Sugarcane Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, SRDB conducted a meeting to formulate future line of action for conduct of the trials. Participants of the meeting were as follows

1. Shahid Afghan, Acting CEO, Sugarcane Research and Development Board (Coordinator)
2. Muhammad Ilyas, Director, Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian
3. Muhammad Qiaser Nawaz, ARO, Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian
4. Khalil Ahmad Khaira, DGM (Cane), Safina Sugar Mills Lallian
5. Azhar Munir, Farm Manager, Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad
6. Waqas Arshad, Research Officer, Sugarcane Research and Development Board

Proceedings:

• Meeting on Performance of Sugar Beet Varieties under Saline Sodic Soil started with the brief presentation of Dr. Shahid Afghan CEO, SRDB. He describes the world-wide cultivation trends of sugar beet along with major sugar beet producing countries.
• Khalil Khaira added his experience into conversation that timely sowing between 1^st to 15^th October produces optimum yield as delay in sowing makes crop prune to more harsh winters and growth mostly seizes during this time span that lasts almost for 1 month.
• Director, SSRI told that he will conduct trials and will share short and long-term layout plans using different salinity levels. Furthermore, all major inputs including land, fertilizers, pesticides, field staff etc will be managed by SSRI
• Khalil Khaira will provide 2 varieties for trials. Technical parameters like sowing and harvesting procedures will be supported by Safina Sugar Mills along with regular experiment visits and training of SSRI field staff.
• SRDB will financially support SSRI in developing salinity chambers for the experiment. For this purpose, SSRI will submit proposal for developing salinity chambers to SRDB for funding.

Meeting was concluded on the note to conduct this experiment in the earliest possible time. Members acknowledge the experiment and assures to provide each other with inputs and expertise in full ability.