ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday emphasized the need to translate research into practical, scalable and farmer-oriented solutions, particularly in climate-resilient agriculture, water management, crop improvement, horticulture and agricultural value chains.
The minister held a meeting with Dr. Suzie Newman, General Manager Partnerships, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan to discuss further strengthening bilateral cooperation in agricultural research, climate resilience, biosecurity, water management and agricultural trade.
The Federal Minister appreciated Australia’s longstanding partnership with Pakistan through ACIAR, noting that cooperation in agricultural research has continued since 1984 and has contributed to research, capacity building and agricultural development.
The Australian side reaffirmed the importance of the longstanding Pakistan-Australia agricultural research partnership and expressed interest in further strengthening collaboration in areas aligned with Pakistan’s agricultural priorities.
ACIAR highlighted its focus on demand-driven, locally led research, capacity building and translating research outcomes into practical benefits for farmers and the wider agricultural sector.
The meeting discussed opportunities to further enhance Pakistan’s agricultural and horticultural exports to Australia, particularly through addressing phytosanitary requirements, strengthening plant-health systems and facilitating market access.
The Australian side welcomed continued technical engagement between the relevant institutions to address such issues.
The Federal Minister highlighted agricultural biosecurity and plant health as key areas for expanded cooperation and proposed collaboration in pest identification, molecular diagnostics, DNA barcoding, pest surveillance, risk analysis, quarantine management and modern digital plant-health systems.
Both sides discussed the potential for enhanced technical cooperation in climate- and weather-based pest forecasting, GIS-based surveillance, early-warning systems, invasive pest management and locust preparedness, including environmentally sustainable approaches to pest control.
ACIAR’s ongoing Aik Saath programme was also discussed, with both sides recognizing the importance of strengthening productive, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems. Priority areas identified included water-use efficiency, climate-resilient irrigation, salinity and waterlogging management, wheat and pulse improvement, horticulture, post-harvest management and value-chain development.
The meeting also reviewed the ACIAR-funded Water Resilience and Livelihood Improvement in the Southern Indus Basin project. The Federal Minister emphasized stronger involvement of relevant Pakistani research institutions to enhance technical implementation, national ownership and sustainability of the project.
The Australian side also appreciated Pakistan’s continued engagement in technical exchanges, capacity-building programmes and institutional cooperation, and emphasized the value of collaboration among research institutions, government agencies and agricultural stakeholders.
Both sides agreed to identify new demand-driven and outcome-oriented research initiatives aligned with Pakistan’s agricultural and food-security requirements, with emphasis on capacity building, researcher exchanges, technical expertise and practical solutions for farmers.
Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening its longstanding partnership with Australia, particularly in food security, climate resilience, agricultural biosecurity, water management, crop improvement, horticulture and export development.
