Agricultural
Engineering Institute, NARC/PARC of Ministry of National Food Security and
Research (MNFS&R), Islamabad has developed advanced Ispaghol processing
machinery first time in Pakistan. It has up-to two tons/day Ispaghol
processing capacity and 0.5 ton of good quality husk /day in single shift (free
of chemicals and impurities).
PARC
organized a national seminar on indigenous ispaghol processing machinery at
Hisilpure, Bahawalpure. Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Honourable
Federal Minister for Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Islamabad
was the Chief Guest at the occassion. Mr. Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Federal
Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination also participated the event.
Demonstration of Ispaghol machinery also conducted at the occasion. Farmers,
Processors, Multinational Companies, Chamber of Commerce, Line Departments and
Parliamentarians attended the seminar and machinery demonstration.
Mr.
Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for National Food Security &
Research and Mr. Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial
Coordination hailed scientists for Pakistan Agricultural Research Council
(PARC) for developing Ispaghol processing machine, saying it would help to
improve earnings of the poor people of Thar and Cholistan deserts.
Both the
Ministers also witnessed the working of the three-stage plant and appreciated
its working after PARC scientists informed them that it has the capacity to
process 400 Kilogram of Ispaghol per hour. Bosan said that Ispaghol is a
medicinal plant and it is grown on 3000 acre area in Cholistan and Thar
deserts. However, farmers were not getting proper price of their production. He
said that availability of local processing facility would enhance importance of
local Ispaghol production which would benefit both farmers and traders who
would be able to market Ispaghol for good profit. He also said that there would
be a time soon when Pakistan would be exporting Ispaghol
Mr. Riaz
Hussain Pirzada said that agriculture is the backbone of the national economy
and 43 per cent of the country labour force is associated with agriculture. He
admired the efforts of PARC scientists on developing advanced Ispaghol
Processing Machinery first time in Pakistan.
While
addressing to the participants, Dr. Yusuf Zafar, Chairman, PARC said that PARC
is an important Organization of the Pakistan and is serving the nation since
last 40 years. PARC is also benefiting the farmers through its new innovations
& research. He said that through Ispaghol Machinery, farmers of South
Punjab and Sindh will be the beneficiary of this product. Farmers of Cholistan
and Thar will also take benefit from this innovation. Dr. Zafar also requested
to the Federal Minister for M/o NFS&R for announcement of subsidy and special
package by the Govt. of Pakistan for the farmers of Ispaghol Cultivation for
their encouragement.
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