117th batch of Adult Female Literacy center opened by Shakarganj Foundation in Mouza Gilmala a rural area of district Jhang. Through this program Shakarganj Foundation will provide basic education to the illiterate women of the rural society (ranging between the age of 15 to 50 years). A teacher has been appointed for this purpose Ms. Samra Ashraf Manger Social Action Program distributed books under Jugnoo sabaq among the students. The Batch is for 3-months period and 25 female students were enrolled.
Induction of following new Administrative Officers at Shakarganj Mills Limited Jhang and Bhone
Mr. Maqsood Ahmad Bhattihas been re-designated as Senior Vice President and Co-Products SML Bhone and Jhang We wish him every success in his new role and responsibilities and pray that he will continue to perform with the professionalism and dedication to the work.
Mr. Javed Alam has been appointed as Senior Vice President (Sugar) w.e.f August 16, 2011. He had worked as General Manager. He has 22 years experience of technical field. We welcome and wish him all the best for his future endeavors.
Mr. Zulifiqar Waseem Malik has been appointed as Deputy General Manager Cane Department w.e.f August 12, 2011, he has vast experience comprises over 19 years as cane advisor and we wish him all the very best for his future endeavors.
Mr. Maqsood Ahmad has been appointed as Deputy General Manager Distillery w.e.f August 12, 2011, he has worked for 7 years as Production Manager and we wish him all the very best for his future.
Mr. Saif Ul Haq has been appointed in Shakarganj Mills Ltd as Security Officer w.e.f August 09, 2011. He served in the Armed Forces for 32 years and then joined the Civil Services as Chief Security Officer for 13 years.
Mr. Aziz Hussain Kallu has been appointed as Deputy General Manager Cane w.e.f August 06, 2011, he has been serving as Senior Cane Manager for more than 19 years in the industry and we wish him all the very best for his future successes.
Mr. Mehmood Hamid has been appointed as Zonal In-charge in Agriculture Department w.e.f August 6, 2011 and we wish him all the very best for his future endeavors.
Mr. Malik Farhat Abbas has been transferred from SML Bhone to Shakarganj Mills Ltd; Jhang as Deputy General Manager Administration w.e.f July 30, 2011 and we wish him all the very best for his future.
Major Rtd. Sajid Hussain has been appointed in SML Bhone as Manager Administration w.e.f July 28, 2011; he served in the Armed forces for 25 years and also worked as Admin Manager for 12 years. We wish him very best in the new role and responsibilities.
VSIT OF DR. SHAHID AFGHAN DIRECTOR RESEARCH OF SSRI TO ARS-USDA, USA
Dr. Afghan visited for one month (June 20 to July 21, 2011) at Agriculture Research Services (ARS) of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), as part of a US-Pakistan Science and Technology Cooperation Program. This visit was funded by USAID/HEC under a project entitled, “Enhance the sugarcane production in Pakistan by modern breeding techniques”.
Objectives & Approaches
Identify sugarcane germplasm with excellent biometry and resistance to the major diseases.
Identify molecular markers that are linked to genes for disease resistance. Priority was given to finding markers for red rot, rust, smut and ratoon stunt diseases.
Highly domesticated and wild clones of sugarcane or near relatives were evaluated for resistance to major sugarcane diseases following either natural infection or artificial inoculation.
Bulk Segregate analysis (BSA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular biology methods such as RAPD, AFLP, or SSR, QTL and association mapping were used to identify genetic markers closely linked to the resistance genes.
A Genetically Verified Self-progeny Mapping Population
A genetic linkage map constructed with AFLP, SSR, and TRAP DNA Markers.
RSD, smut, borer) collected from two-year replicated field experiments.
Amplification of a DNA marker against rust resistant and susceptible sugarcane cultivars.
Achievements:
1.Publication of seven research papers: Three Peer-reviewed and four Conference/Symposia papers
2. Material Transfer Agreements of SSRI with ARS-USDA
Dr. Afghan visited scientists of the institutions to see where collaborative efforts between the two countries could be established. This enables to set some wheels in motion on developing some sort of agreements where we could share cane fuzz and perhaps vegetative cuttings of our elite clones. The most important out come of the visit was material transfer agreement (MTA) between SSRI and ARS-USDA Sugarcane Research Field Station Canal Point (CP). SSRI will get free of cost 75 bi-parental crosses of cane fuzz of CP origin. The value of this stuff in international market is USD 350 per cross. Cane fuzz of Rs. 2.25 millions per year will be given free of cost for a period of five year (2011 to 15). Another MTA of this sort is in progress with ARS-USDA Sugarcane Research Unit at Houma. Hopefully this development would be materialize until March 2012.
3. Presentation of Lectures
During his visit, Dr. Afghan gave two lectures one on “Cultivation of Sugarcane in Pakistan, second on Research and Development Activities at Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute. These lectures were given at three different institutions, one at the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Research Laboratory in Houma, second at the Sugar Research Station, Louisiana State University and third at Sugarcane Field Station, Canal Point Florida. Dr. Afghan interacted with sugarcane researchers at all the three locations. Dr. Afghan alongwith Dr. Pan also visited the Audubon Sugar Research Institute, St. Gabriel and had discussion with Dr. Benjamin L. Legendre, Director of the Institute.
4. Linkages Developed
Following three institutions have developed linkage to work for collaborative research work.
Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute, Jhang Pakistan
The USDA-ARS, Sugarcane Research Lab, Houma, USA
ARS-USDA, SRU Canal Point, Florid, USA
5. Five Ph D Scholars have accomplished Research Projects on Isolation of resistance genes
analogs from red rot, brown rust, orange rust, smut and SCMV.
Visit of Dr. Afghan at ARS-USDA, USA
2011
Institution visited
Location
Name of Scientists/position
June,
20 to 30
ARS-USDA, Sugarcane Research Laboratory and Field Station
Houma
Dr. Edwar P. Richard, Research Leader
Dr. Yong-Bao Pan, Molecular Biologist
July, 1
Sugar Processing Research Institute
New Orleans
Mr. Xavier M. Miranda, Manager
July,
2 to 7
Audubon Sugar Institute
Louisiana State University
Dept. of Plant Pathology
St. Gabriel
Dr. Benjamin L. Legendre, Department Head
Dr. Collins . Kimbeng, Professor
Dr. Jeffrey W. Hoy, Sugarcane Pathologist
July,
8 to 10
School of Plant Enviro. & Soil Science ARS-USDA Research and Extention Central Research Station
Baton Rouge
Dr. Niranjan Baisakh, Professor
Dr. Michael J. Pontfi, Professor
Dr. Pat Bollich, Director
July,
11 to 20
ARS-USDA Sugarcane Field Station Florida State University
Cana l Point
Dr. Jack C. Comstock, Research Leader,
Dr. Neil C. Glynn, Molecular Biologist
July, 21
World Collection of Sugarcane
Miami
Dr. Gail C. Wisler, National Program Leader
Planned Future Activity
The work on smut was initiated in July 2010 and RAPD and BSA analysis is underway.
A major focus of sugarcane improvement program is to obtain high sugar yielding varieties. The components of sugar yield are stalk weight, stalk numbers and sugar content.
We will work on the identification of molecular markers linked to stalk weight, stalk diameter and stalk number of selected cultivars. Biometric traits of all the promising and commercial Pakistan cultivars are available for association mapping studies.
