KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Muhammad Haroon Agar said that agriculture is much neglected sector which needs immediate attention by the government to bring reforms, establish seed banks & research centres, set up cool chains and purpose-built warehouses to get maximum benefits. The economy of Pakistan is also heavily dependent on agriculture sector as it feeds people, provides raw material for industry and plays important role in foreign trade.
Exchanging views with the team of Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) Netherlands Ms Lisanne Heemskerk and Mr Marlon Rossblad, President KCCI Haroon Agar stated that Pakistan’s agriculture sector faced manifold challenges and problems like irrigation and water issues, deforestation, absence of land reforms, lack of research & development and training to farmers, absence of the modern harvesting technologies and techniques, infrastructural problems etc.
Commenting on the Value Chain Study for Cumin Seeds by CBI and GIZ, he stated that Pakistan produces traditional Cumin seeds of three qualities. Pakistani Cumin seeds are famous for its aroma and taste. Local produce can be enhanced by training the farmers and bringing reforms because the crops mostly produced in Pakistan are at the mercy of the weather conditions and climate.
He welcomed the initiative of CBI Netherlands for executing Value Chain Study of Cumin seeds followed by training programme of Pakistani farmers. He also assured KCCI’s support in this regard.
Ms Lisanne Heemskerk, Team Leader of Study Mission of the Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) Netherlands presented compliments and gratitude to President KCCI for providing an opportunity to apprise him about the CBI’s study on Value Chain for Cumin Seeds in Pakistan. She informed that the CBI as an agency functions under the ambit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands.
