Sir: Agriculture may be defined as the art and science of growing plants and other crops and the raising of animals for food, other human needs, or economic gain. It is necessary for our survival and health. It is a unique entity and its significance cannot be measured in terms of money or GDP. However, economists and businessmen measure it for their professional requirements. In general, agriculture and those contributing to its success are receiving little importance at present, not even equal to a cricketer or singer. Praise be to those wise decision makers and foreign experts who helped establish and improve agricultural research institutions and production in the country to meet the requirements of a fast growing population (from 40 to 180 million). Agriculture products include crops, fruits, vegetables, livestock, dairy, poultry, honey, etc. Just imagine the utility and importance of these commodities for our survival, health and prosperity and also imagine the wisdom of those who are planning to replace the internationally recognised and funded National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) with its 1,395 acres research farmland in Islamabad with a housing scheme for making quick money. I would request the government high ups to revisit their policies in this regard. M AKRAM NIAZI Rawalpindi