Dutch embassy launches project for potato growers

The embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands hosted the launch of a capacity building project for smallholder potato growers in Punjab at the residence of Ambassador Wouter Plomp.

The event was attended by Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Senior Regional Director (Asia) Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) Babar Bajwa and President Pakistan Farmers Associates Afaq Tiwana.

Ambassador Plomp said food security is a growing concern globally, especially in this region, due to impacts of climate change and rapid increase in population.

“Meeting up with nutritious food demand is a challenge for Pakistan, and the Netherlands has knowledge, technology and skills to help Pakistan overcome these challenges. For instance, Pakistan imports 13,000 metric tonnes of seed potatoes from the Netherlands per annum.”

Minister Imam appreciated the support of the Dutch government in building the capacity of farmers and expressed the commitment of the government to strengthening the agriculture sector as it is the backbone of Pakistani economy. Acknowledging the achievements of the Netherlands in agriculture, the minister hoped that Pakistani farmers will acquire techniques and skills to enhance their productivity through this project.

Supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the two-and-a-half-year project is meant to help increase productivity and sustainability of 960 smallholder potato growers in Sahiwal, Okara, Kasur and Pakpattan with special focus on strengthening the role of women. The project will be implemented by CABI and Wageningen University.

Director Strategic Partnership CABI Janny Vos and Ir. Herman Schoorlemmer, Wageningen University Research Manager, participated in the event virtually.

South African envoy visits RCCI

High Commissioner of South Africa Methuthuzeli Madikiza visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) with Deputy Head of Mission and Political Consular Christo Janse Van Noordwyk.

RCCI President Mohammad Nasir Mirza, Senior Vice President Usman Ashraf, Vice President Shahraiz A Malik and members of the executive committee and chamber were present.

The high commissioner said South Africa considers Pakistan an important market for trade cooperation and is keen to further enhance bilateral trade between the two countries. He said the volume of bilateral trade could increase to one billion dollars in the next few years as sectors such as tourism, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and services have great potential.

He suggested to the RCCI to organise its annual achievement awards in Cape Town and accepted an invitation to participate in Build Expo 2021 being organised by the chamber.

Seminar on Turkmenistan held

Ambassador of Turkmenistan Atadjan Movlamov spoke at a seminar at Comsats.

The topic was ‘Turkmenistan - Home of Year of Peace and Trust: 2021’.

Turkmenistan adopted a policy of neutrality in 1995 and in 2017 the United Nations passed a resolution guaranteeing respect for the country’s neutrality.

Turkmenistan moved a resolution at the UN in 2019 to declare 2021 as the year of peace and trust. The ‘Year of Peace and Trust’ is meant to mobilise international efforts to promote peace and trust among nations through political dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation to build sustainable peace, solidarity and harmony.

Ambassador Movlamov said neutral Turkmenistan had established a constructive relationship of cooperation with its neighbours and was contributing to building a lasting peace through economic and humanitarian assistance, engaging Afghanistan in regional projects and participating in international initiatives to rebuild that country. The construction of infrastructure projects like the Turkmen-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline will not only bring energy but also peace to the respective countries.Comsats Executive Director Dr S.M. Junaid Zaidi, Ambassador Fauzia Nasreen, journalist Tazeen Akhtar and Dr Afshan Malik, Chairperson Sindhu Welfare, also spoke.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2021