Member SpotlightsSustainable Agriculture & Educational Progress in Pakistan Zabta Shinwari, Ph.D. A Science Advisory Board Member Since 2007  Zabta Shinwari, Ph.D., a 2008 Steering Committee Member. Zabta Shinwari, Ph.D. currently serves as Vice Chancellor to Qarshi University, Pakistan, and as Chief Executive to Qarshi Research International. Shinwari received his Ph.D. in molecular systematics from Kyoto University, Japan, (1994) and pursued his post-doctoral fellowship at Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) (1994-1998). He later received two additional fellowships with JIRCAS (1999 and 2001). Shinwari's principal areas of interest are the advancement of educational facilities and the development of sustainable agriculture. He contributed to the creation of new educational institutions in Pakistan, and the addition of new science facilities to existing institutions. His efforts in botany research have contributed to the education and training of inhabitants in under-developed areas in crop growth and sustainability. Professional Background I started my carrier as a Research Associate in the Pakistan Museum of Natural History and moved to the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council as a senior scientific advisor. Then I served the World Wide Fund for Nature as a Technical Coordinator for the Ethnobotany Project of Hindukush Himalayas. Later, I worked as a Programme Leader in COMSTECH (Ministerial Committee of Science & Technology for OIC countries). I was selected as Vice Chancellor of Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST), Pakistan, and also served as Project Director of the University of Science & Technology, Bannu. Presently, I am working as Chief Executive of Qarshi Research International and was also given the assignment to be the Vice Chancellor/Project Director of Qarshi University Lahore from September 2006 to date. Achievements in Education & Agriculture Because of my incessant obsession with doing something special for my people I was able to extend educational facilities to the marginalized and hitherto neglected communities of the remote areas of NWFP, besides providing massive relief to the deserving students in fees. Through the opening of 10 new departments, we've been able to curtail the costs on education by providing education at the doorsteps of the local people. Today, through hard work, KUST can rightly boast of being a centre of excellence in higher education. While working in World Wide Fund for the Conservation of Nature (WWF-P), I developed ways and means to enhance the socio-economic condition of the people living in the hilly areas of Pakistan (including Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir). This was possible because of the proper usage of under-utilized crops, improved means of collection of medicinal plants of significance, introduction of valuable exotic plants, and by improvement of the status of primary education in such areas. I played a major role in strengthening various Herbaria at QAU, National Herbarium and Pakistan Museum of Natural History. I reported 5 genes to be drought, cold, and stress tolerant. The same varieties are being put to scientific usage around the world to improve productivity of agricultural crops and the enhancement of the quality of life. Motivations A large number of the Pakistani population lives below the poverty line. They can’t meet their expenses from their income; hence they mainly rely on wild plants for their health cures. They are rich in indigenous knowledge but there was a need to document it and use it for their betterment, as the majority of them are unable to do. I started working with the tribal communities after my education. Myself, being a tribal man, know their culture and way of life, which in many ways is helpful. But there are some taboos like sending females to school, and I wanted to help them, in removing their suspicions to education. Now I can claim that I was quite successful. I want to continue to help the ailing and poor communities to stand on their feet through use of science & technology. What has contributed to the success/failures of education in sustainable agriculture in Pakistan? Education was not that helpful in sustainable agriculture in Pakistan because of the following: - Low literacy rate - Failed extension programme - Research not targeting specific problems of the country - Low availability of quality seed - Non-availability of technological packages - High cost of production - Human resource issues There are very limited career growth opportunities even for highly qualified researchers. Salary scales for researchers is not commensurate with qualifications and experience. There is a need for stronger Research Managers, and there is a lack of on-the-job training for researchers and research managers, and also a lack of appreciation for the role and contributions of agricultural scientists. In terms of research efficiency, priority settings are often done without adequate consultation with technical specialists. Opportunities for information sharing at international workshops are often missed by lengthy bureaucratic approval processes. There is poor access to research literature and links with external agencies, and a lack of coordination and collaboration between researchers and agencies. Research findings frequently stop short of being suitable for dissemination to farmers. The following financial issues also play a role: - Operational research budgets seriously under-funded - Inadequate funding for emerging needs, e.g., post-harvest tech. livestock improvement, soil, water and salinity management - Inadequate facilities and equipment to undertake quality research - Poor linkages between research needs and budget allocations - Lack of mobility to interact with farmers and extension workers How has your role with the World Wide Fund for the Conservation of Nature (WWF-P) contributed to the goals of education and training in sustainable agriculture? While working in the World Wide Fund for the Conservation of Nature (WWF-P), I developed ways and means to enhance the socio-economic condition of the people living in the hilly areas of Pakistan (including northern areas and Azad Kashmir). This was possible because of the proper usage of under-utilized crops, improved means of collection of medicinal plants of significance, introduction of valuable exotic plants, and by improving the status of primary education in such areas. We had pioneering efforts in Ethnobotany at MSc level and we opened the doors to research on medicinal plants at MPhil and PhD levels. How important do you believe it is for transfer of scientific knowledge and technology to developing countries? Do you believe the Western world has an obligation to facilitate in this endeavor? I believe we all are obliged to help each other and share whatever we have. Developing countries are still using outdated ways and means for cultivation and therefore, the productivity is sometimes not even 25% of that of the developed world. To save them from starvation as their population increases exponentially, the West has to facilitate in the transfer of technology. How will your role as Chief Executive of Qarshi Research International contribute to educational success and global collaboration with Pakistan? Qarshi Research International believes in affordable quality products for this part of the world and has now planned to help establish Qarshi University, Lahore. Qarshi University Lahore is a project of Qarshi Foundation, Lahore. Qarshi Foundation is a non-profit welfare organization involved in various activities of community development and education. The management of the Foundation believes that no meaningful progress can be made by the country without education. Qarshi University Lahore envisions its graduates as: - Healthy and open-minded persons, characterized by personal integrity, an independent mind, and creative thinking - Professionally competent, willing to exercise responsible leadership for economic progress in a just society - Able to communicate effectively with people from other nations and to participate in the globalization process - Able to emphasize the role and status of the University as a scientific and cultural focal center which has a major role in the development of the province and the nation and in reviving their heritage A modern university at Lahore with a higher standard of education and specialized curricula would attract students not only from Punjab, but also from neighboring provinces & countries. The teaching facilities for the proposed Qarshi University Lahore need to be unique for Pakistan. It will be able to offer quality tertiary education to regional students in neighboring countries including Afghanistan and Central Asian States. The objectives of the proposed university are: - To create nationally and globally competitive technology leaders - To produce multi-disciplinary research areas of national significance - Solve the problems and anticipate the needs of domestic industry and society - Become a model institution, creating a societal space for other high quality research universities to be set up in Pakistan To discuss this Member Spotlight and other topics with fellow Science Advisory Board members, please visit our community forum. Weblinks Qarshi Published Books Shinwari, ZK & Ayaz, A. 2002. Plant wealth of Ayubia National Park and Indigenous knowledge (Urdu). WWF-Pakistan. Shinwari, ZK; Khan, AA and Nakaike, T. 2003. Medicinal and other useful plants of district Swat-Pakistan. WWF-Pakistan. Shinwari, ZK; Nasim, A and Rahman, A. 2003. Biotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges in OIC member state countries (An Overview). COMSTECH-Islamabad-Pakistan. Shinwari, Z. K., M. Rehman, T. Watanabe, and Y. Yoshikawa. 2006. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Pakistan (A Pictorial Guide). Pp. 492 Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan. Gilani S.A., Z. K. Shinwari and K. N. Watanabe 2007 Monograph on Rhazya stricta. Mimatsu Corporation Tokyo, Japan. Documentary Film Produced Capacity Building in Applied Ethnobotany (A Case Study): Sustainable use of Natural Resources of Ayubia National Park. WWF-Pakistan (2002). Published Articles Shinwari, Z.K. and I.K. Wazir, 1988 A key and checklist to the weeds of wheat fields of Bannu District, Pakistan J. Agr. Res. 9(4): 561-573. Shinwari, Z.K. S. Malik and M. Shah, 1988 Summer Flora of Dera Bugti Area, Baluchistan. Biologia 34(2): 237-247. Shah, S.M.; Z.K. Shinwari and J. Shah, 1989 Liliaceae of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Abbotabad and Mansehra Districts. Sci. Khyber 2(1): 41-58. Shinwari, Z.K. and F. Bano 1989 History of cultivation in Pakistan. Pakistan No. 19&20; 53-59. Shinwari, Z.K. and S. Malik 1989 Plant Wealth of Dera Bugti Area, Baluchistan. Progressive Farming 9(1): 39-42. Shinwari, Z.K.; S. Gorsi and M. R. Awan 1990 Taxonomic studies on the weeds of wheat fields in Attock District. Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res. 3(1): 31-41. Marwat, Q. and Z.K. Shinwari, 1990 A checklist of the Flora of Muslakh Range, Pishin, Baluchistan, Pakistan. Biologia 36(1): 109-116. Awan, M.R.; Z.K. Shinwari, and Z.D. Khattak, 1990 Orographic distribution of Umbelliferae in Hazara Division. Sci. Khyber 3(2): 217-226. Shinwari, Z.K. and M.N. Chaudheri, 1990 A new species of Family Labiatae from Pakistan. Biologia 36(2):67. Gorsi, S.; Z.K. Shinwari and M. Arshad 1991 Preliminary studies o weeds of Rice Fields of Rechina-Doab. Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res. 4(1): 62-68. Shah, M.; Z.K. Shinwari; M.K. Leghari and T. Nakaike 1992 A note on centres of diversity of the genus Potentilla (Rosaceae). Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo Ser. B, 18(3): 117-122. Shinwari, Z.K.; M. Shah and M.R. Awan 1992 Central Asiatic Influence in the Flora of Pakistan (Part I Family Labiatae). Central Asia No. 31: 79-94. Shinwari, Z.K. and M.N. Chaudheri 1992 A taxonomic revision of genus Mentha from Pakistan Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 43(2): 97-110. Shinwari, Z.K.; R. Terauchi and S. Kawano 1992 RFLP analysis of cpNDA of Disporum and several related genera of Liliaceae- Polygonatae. In Kawano, S. Comparative Floristic and Ecological studies o the temperate elements in North America. Report of 1989- 1991 North America Project. 142-148. ### << Previous Next >> [ View All Member Spotlights ] |
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