Mission director Ms. Julie Koenen Innovations and Partnerships Unit office of USAID, Pakistan called on Federal Minister for National food security and research Syed Fakhar Imam here in Islamabad today. In the meeting Federal secretary for National food security and research was also present.
The Minister informed the visiting delegation that Pakistan's main agriculture crops are wheat, rice, maze, sugarcane and cotton. Our production of cotton was good in 80s but presently production has declined. However, cotton contributes about 60% in Pakistan export. There is need of value addition in cotton crop through which Pakistan would earn billions of dollars (US$). Moreover, focus of current government is on uplifting the seed quality and production of cotton crop by exchange of information and research with other cotton producing countries. We had world best basmati rice but failed to exploit toward international marketing, he added.
While talking about other agriculture products Federal Minister said the Government wants to move towards organic farming to reduce the hazardous effects of pesticides. We import vegetable seeds which increases the production cost, he added.
Federal minister said that Pakistan has sufficient number of human resource available but it is underequipped and underutilized. We require training of farmers and new machinery including tractors to cover large cultivation area and to increase production capacity.
Federal Minister told USAID Mission director that this year’s wheat procurement is in process and we are facing issue of rain and unfavorable weather. We also require more proper storage houses for wheat crop as currently they are limited in numbers.
Federal secretary for National food security and research said ministry is working on devising a food security plan which would be Covid specific considering the overall supply chain including harvest, storage and distribution.
Mission director, innovation and partnerships unit office of USAID, Pakistan offered to support the agriculture and food sector in relation to COVID specifically. Federal minister welcomed and appreciated this collaboration.
Federal Minister acknowledged the USAID’s support and its activities to support Pakistan’s effort to improve agriculture sector.
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