The Institute of Food Sciences and Technologies, Agriculture University, Tandojam has organised a training course for farmers on chilli preservation method. Addressing the event, the Provincial Minister, Agriculture, Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, said that water shortage in Sindh has taken a serious form affecting the agriculture sector. He agreed that in Sindh, use of pesticides, urea and agriculture medicine make the soil useless. The minister also said any negligence in the research could become fatal for the national economy. Therefore, he urged the government to give funds for research in this regard. He asked the faculty of Agriculture University to carry research on use of saline water. The Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr Bashir Ahmad Shaikh said that agro-sector in Sindh cannot progress, as 90 percent of the underground water is useless for agricultural activity due to extensive use of low quality pesticides, urea, seeds putting the sector in deep trouble besides environmental pollution. The VC urged the government to take action against stockholders and maintain the condition of the warehouses. The Director, Sofco, Abdul Malik somroo termed the training course par international level motivating home-based industries. The director of Food and Sciences Technologies, Dr Sagheer Ahmad Shaikh said, soon we will launch the institute products in the market. While talking to media persons after the event, the minister referring to field employees of grade 10 or 11, who were promoted to grade 17 said that they will be demoted to their previous grade but would continue with their previous status. 'We will negotiate with the Federal Government on supportive price of rice will decide the price before its cropping', he said adding that the supportive prices for all food crops will be mentioned before sowing the crops. Copyright Business Recorder, 2008