Govt committed to revolutionize agri sector: Sikandar

ISLAMABAD—Government of Pakistan is fully committed to revolutionize the agriculture sector through enhancing investment in agriculture, technology interventions and policy business. In this connection, high value crops and value addition process are mainly under focus.
Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan expressed these views while addressing a ceremony on world Food Day held here on Monday.
He said the government is aimed at reducing poverty and ensure food security through macroeconomic adjustments to foster economic growth, improve governance and initiate reforms in key sectors including human resources and rural development.
The government emphasizes progress on the fronts of improving investment climate, reducing economy’s vulnerability to internal and external shocks put the economy on sustainable growth path and ensure that the growth is translated into palpable improvements in living standards for the population at large and poor in particular, he said.
Investment in agro-based industry is also attracted and facilitated. Several protocols and MoU have been concluded for trade promotion especially enhancing export of fruits, vegetables, rice and other agricultural products.
“We have also been proactive in attracting investment from renowned international super market chains, food producers and food processors to invest in Pakistan with encouraging results”, he maintained.
Earlier, the food and agriculture organization of the UNITED Nations in collaboration with Ministry of food, agriculture and Livestock celebrated World Food Day under the theme “ investing in Agriculture for Food Security”.
The event was opened by a welcome address by the Additional Secretary of MINFAL Mohammad Saleem Khan followed by messages read out from the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan. FAO representatives also read out a message from the FAO Director General Dr. Jacques Diouf in Paistan Dr. Memed Gunawn.
This was followed by the award distribution ceremony for successful participants of an essay competition on the WFD them among students of agriculture universities and colleges. The award distribution ceremony also included the presenting of the Norman Borlaug award to Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed a renowned Pakistani scientist in the field of plant protection. —Online