Pakistan aims to become a high agriculture producing country like China

Islamabad: Pakistan should aim to become a high agriculture producing country like China through the use of latest technology, a senior Pakistani cabinet member said.

Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Syed Murtaza Mahmud said that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) focuses on agriculture.

While addressing a five day international training course on productivity gain-sharing in Agribusiness Enterprises here, he said China was support the Pakistani agriculture sector.

He was of the view that converting raw produce into value added products like fruit pulping and fruit dehydration can promote agribusiness.

Mahmud stressed to improve agricultural productivity through farm mechanization and promote agricultural credit for rural economies specially to purchase modern technologies.

He said regional skills development programs for rural youth can address the need of the productive workforce. He highlighted the use of productive irrigation methods like drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, ptimum use of Intermediate inputs like fertilizers, seeds and pesticides for better produce of crops.

He suggested to promote low cost enterprise development programs like honey bee keeping and floriculture in order to create employment opportunities for the rural youths.

He hoped that this training course will provide knowledge on the application of gainsharing tools and share best practices to make agribusiness enterprises more productive and profitable.

“Gain-sharing has the potential to contribute to agricultural productivity as farmers are empowered, actors in supply chains are motivated to create increased feeling of ownership, and companies receive greater profits due to higher productivity and enhanced efficiency throughout supply chains,” Mahmud said.

He mentioned that representing the Ministry of Industries and Production, “we own and owe a mission to ‘To Achieve Efficient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrial Development.’

Currently, he contended, Pakistan was facing many external and internal challenges which are further compounded by existing commodity super cycle and geopolitical situation.

He further added that the challenge is to better integrate small scale farmers into markets so that they can make the agricultural sector stronger.

“Experience shows that when a country’s agricultural sector is not competitive, there is greater reliance on imports and less agriculture-driven poverty reduction in rural areas. We also look forward to enhance productivity of our agriculture sector, based on mutual learning and showing the rest of the world, how, APO (Asian Productivity Organization) member countries can work together for innovation and development; and also be mentors for other countries of the world,” he added.