“AJ&K to make a new agriculture policy in coordination with ministry of national food security and research to promote a shift towards high value crops”: Sardar Abdul Qayumm Niazi
(Islamabad): Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayuum Khan Niazi called upon the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam in his office on Monday 30th, August, 2021. The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the ministry of national food security and research.
Federal Minister Syed Fakhar Imam and AJ&K PM Sardar Abdul Qayumm Niazi discussed the high agricultural potential in AJ&K. Both dignitaries agreed to increase collaboration in shifting focus towards high value agricultural products. Fakhar Imam assured the PM AJ&K that ministry of national food security will provide every support available to help the agricultural transition towards high value crops.
Federal Minister said that AJ&K has high potential for high value products such as Saffron, garlic, and deciduous fruits such as peach plum etc. He said that a transition towards high value crops can uplift AJ&K economically. He said that the factors of production of these crops are available such as bulbs for saffron. He said that average income of per acre saffron production is 25-30 lakh which is extremely high as compared to low value crops. Fakhar said that every technical support would be provided to the government of AJ&K to upgrade the agriculture sector of AJ&K.
Fakhar said that the livestock sector has immense potential and should be a key area of focus as well. He said that quality of silage plays a key role in the quality of livestock and thus collaboration to enhance the livestock sector should be prioritized.
Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayuum Khan Niazi said that a new policy will be made to oversee the transition towards high value crops in collaboration with the ministry of national food security and research. He said that tea plantation was once an area of focus but due to lack of vision of the previous governments it has seen little progress. He said that long term planning is the key towards meaningful output in the agriculture sector.
The two dignitaries agreed to make a long-term strategy to ensure that policies are implemented by the future governments as well. Fakhar Imam highlighted the benefits of private and public partnerships and proposed that the local producer should be incentivized for transitioning towards high value crops. The two dignitaries pre-emptively discussed strategies to ensure that wheat shortage does not occur. Planning was also done to ensure that prices of wheat remain low and in the reach of citizens.
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