LAHORE: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FPCCI) Standing Committee on Horticulture and Agriculture Produce Chairman Ahmad Jawad has said that despite the agricultural country, Pakistan has less efficiency in the sector, which is denting the economy.
About budget proposals for agriculture & horticulture sector, he claimed that production of various farm products has been very low if compared with the global benchmark. He noted that Pakistan, once dubbed a ‘great bread basket’, is now struggling due to these factors, and has increasingly been becoming an importer of a large number of agri-commodities.
At the same time, Pakistan’s agricultural sector also faces larger post-harvest losses of 40pc, when compared with the global benchmark, he said and added that this double blow low output and high losses, diminishes the income of growers further.
Jawad demanded of the government to formulate horticulture export policy on the pattern of textile policy in consultation with all stakeholders. Moreover, government should allocate funds for promoting hybrid seed industry in Pakistan under private-public partnership (PPP), he added.
Unfolding details of the FPCCI’s Standing Committee’s recommendations to the federal finance ministry for incorporating them in the 2015-16 budget, he told that these include setting up of different projects under private-public partnerships including cool chain infrastructure for the horticulture sector, food processing and value addition industry, agro-processing industry and accredited testing laboratories at horticulture production hubs to ensure availability of good quality produce for exports.
He said that government should also identify new export markets and sign protocols and agreements to remove bottlenecks for enhancing exports, besides a loan scheme for rural youths for promoting agriculture services should be introduced.
