HYDERABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan on Friday supported subsidy for farm sector and asked provinces to invest in agriculture.

Speaking at ‘Mango Export Awareness Seminar and Banana Tissue Culture Plants Distribution’, the minister advocated for provision of subsidy for the entire agriculture sector but this subsidy must reach actual farmers.

“Before devolution, the food ministry used to have Rs32 billion funds. Post 18th Amendment, these funds stand at Rs1bn. But this Rs32bn allocation is not being reflected in Annual Development Plans of the provinces,” he added.

Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmed said Sindh could produce all kind of fruits but the real issue pertains to preparation of fruit trees and pest analysis to meet requirements of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP).

Director General Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Dr Mubarak said that farming practices need to be improved.

“Improvement was seen in the mango sector in the last couple of years after Pakistan was threatened with a ban on mango imports to the European Union market if fruit fly interceptions were reported,” he said. Sindh Director General Dr Atta Soomro said that GAP protocol needs to be followed in Sindh. He proposed the formation of Pakistan GAP on the pattern of global GAP.

Waheed Ahmed of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) gave a presentation, stressing that Pakistan could easily tap foreign markets for mango exports as the country ranks fourth in mango production.

So far, Pakistani mango is being exported to ten countries due to quality issues.

The event was also addressed by Federal food security secretary Seerat Asghar, and Sindh Abadgar Board president Abdul Majeed Nizamani.

Meanwhile, Mr Bosan inaugurated a vapour heat treatment (VHT) facility on Thursday night in Karachi. The facility aims to ensure improved quality control for fruits being exported. The event was organised by PFVA.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play