ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, on Wednesday urged policymakers and agriculture scientists to actively contribute to the improvement of the local agriculture sector to ensure food security and safety in the country.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the seed potato complex and the International Symposium on Seed Potato Production and Supply Chain on Wednesday. The minister expressing his views highlighted that despite Pakistan being an agricultural country it continues to import food items.
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) organized the event in collaboration with the Korean Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA). Its objective is to produce virus-free seed potatoes to enhance local crop yields and generate an exportable surplus.
The Ambassador of South Korea, senior officials from PARC, NARC, and KOPIA, as well as representatives from national and international organizations, agricultural scientists, development partners, private sector organizations, NGOs, experts and progressive farmers from across the country attended the event.
During his address, the minister stressed the importance of fostering public-private partnerships to enhance agricultural research and ensure its effective dissemination to farmers. This, he said, is vital for increasing per-acre yields of all major and minor crops to meet domestic demands.
The minister added that potato is a major cash crop in Pakistan and the third-largest food crop, cultivated over 837,669 acres in various areas and seasons.
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He said the formation of an aeroponic greenhouse would enhance the quality of seed potatoes, support contemporary research, and ensure a steady supply of quality seeds to local farmers.
Rana Tanveer Hussain also noted that local production of potato seeds would save foreign exchange and provide seeds at cheap prices to local farmers.
He emphasized that the government is committed to developing the agriculture sector and has launched several projects to support its growth.
He said that Pakistan is collaborating with South Korea on agricultural technology transfer projects, which will boost local agricultural output and sector development. The minister in the conclusion said the KOPIA’s assistance would help Pakistan in addressing food safety and security challenges and achieving sustainable development in the agriculture sector.
