ISLAMABAD: Country eared US$ 26.372 million by exporting fertilizer during first quarter of current financial year as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year.
The fertilizer exports witnessed 100 percent increase during the period from July-September, 2017-18 as compared the exports of the same period of last year, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During the period under review, about 120.549 metric tons of fertilizer manufactured worth of US$ 26.372 million exported as compared the exports of of first quarter of last financial year.
On month on month basis, the exports of fertilizer from the country also grew by 100 percent in month of September, 2017 and about 33,939 metric tons of the agri-input valuing US$ 7.286 million exported, whereas no quantity of the fertilizer exported in same month of last year, the data added.
Meanwhile, in first quarter the exports of machinery for particular industries grew by 59.33 percent as about 10.840 million was earned as compared the US$ 6.189 million of same period of last year, it added.
In September, 2017, the exports of machinery for particular industries grew by 323.65 percent and auto parts and accessories increased by 55.11percent respectively, the data reveled.
Machinery for particular industry worth of US$ 3.779 million exported in month of September as compared the exports of US$ 89,200 of same month of last year, it added.
On the other hand the imports of agriculture machinery into the country from July-September, 2017-18 increasedby 37.26 percent as country spent US$ 32.433 million on the import of agri-machinery as compared the import of US$ 23.639 million of same period last year.
PARC, Khushhali Bank sign MoU for promoting sustainable agriculture
ISLAMABA: Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited (KMBL) has signed a memorandum of understanding for promoting sustainable agricultural environment for the farmers in the rural areas of the country.
The alliance aims at facilitating small farmers by providing them expert training session which will benefit them to adapt modern cultivation techniques in their farming under the climate change scenario.
According to the agreement, PARC, through these expert training sessions, will educate the farmers to boost their yield by cultivating high yielding disease resistant varieties, efficient use of fertilizers and pesticides, land preparation and post harvest techniques.
Khushhali bank’s agreement with PARC follows the bank’s earnest efforts of providing a flourishing environment to small farmers through a combination
of its financial services and its CSR activities entailing regular training programs for the farmers, who lack adequate knowledge of profitable farm business.
These training programs will be conducted on quarterly basis regularly consistently. These training program will expose farmers to adapt best practices of farming according to market demand.
Addressing the ceremony,President Khushhali Bank, Ghalib Nishtar, said thatthe agreement will help in assistingfarming community in a better way to promote more sustainability within the agriculture sector of Pakistan, adding thatit will be able to bring together agriculture experts and the farming community in close contact.
He further said that the bank is not only supporting small farmers financially but also supporting technically so that the farmers may reap the benefits of bank’s credit.
This will improve the living standard of millions of farmers and ultimately the national economy, adding that this alliance with PARC will take our efforts even further in strengthening this sector which can prove significant in boosting the country’s economy,” he added.
Commenting at the occasion, Chairman, PARC, Dr. Yusuf Zafarassured maximum support from PARC to educate all these farmers on modern agriculture, who are the real custodian of national food security.
He said that PARC has foreign qualified expertise in all aspects of agriculture, livestock and water. We have a training institute from the very beginning and have trained a lot of farmers, field workers and extensionists with the help of JICA and other agencies.
This programme will provide opportunities to our scientists to reach the farming community and transmit their skills in collaboration with KMBL.
