ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan Friday said that the dream of boosting exports of fruits and vegetables was being materialized through the introduction of latest technologies by the agriculture scientists.
The minister said this while addressing the “Fruit and Vegetable Promotion Conference” in Karachi today.
The conference was organized by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association with an aim to promote agriculture production and exports, says a statement issued by the PARC here today.
The conference was attended by Secretary NFS&R, Seerat Asghar, Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, farmers, exporters and other stakeholders. The minister said that country’s mango was facing severe problems of fruit-fly disease, resulting in rejection of several consignments and consequently causes huge financial losses to the national exchequer.
However, the scientists of the Department of Plant and PARC with collaboration of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers andMerchants Association managed to control the disease by introducing hot water treatment technology which resulted in export enhancement.
He said that due to these efforts, the country has now become able to export mango and several other fruits and vegetables, opening up new avenues for country exports in the markets of USA, European Union Japan and other countries.
He congratulated the scientists that at a time when our neighboring country India failed to maintain standard to attract EU markets, Pakistani fruit was attracting attention of new markets.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Seerat Asghar said that the ministry was taking all best possible measures to promote research and development in the agriculture sector. He lauded PARC scientists for promoting agriculture sector.
On the occasion, Chairman PARC, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad said that research and development were the imperative features to help ensure promising agriculture sector to not only cater to the food requirements of the country but also help promote agriculture produce export to earn foreign exchange.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Trade DevelopmentAuthority of Pakistan (TDAP) Karachi said that his organization would help facilitate exporters in every respect.
He said that TDAP has been working for export promotion, so it will extend all possible support to the agriculture exports.On the occasion, Spokesman of the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association, Whaeed Ahmed lauded efforts of the scientists whose research helped enhance fruit and vegetable exports.
