
Photo: Minister of Agriculture Mr Mohib Ullah Khan along with the Secretary Agriculture, Livestock & Cooperation Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr Israr Khan, at the launch of the CABI project to strengthen food value chains in the region.
13 August 2019 – CABI has launched a project to create greater food value chains in Pakistan by introducing certification facilities for quality assurance and stronger market linkages in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the country.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been agreed between CABI and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which will see CABI scientists providing technical assistance in a move towards more technology-based agricultural practices.
The programme, formally inaugurated by Minister of Agriculture Mr Mohib Ullah Khan along with the Secretary Agriculture, Livestock & Cooperation Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr Israr Khan and other delegates, will make more efficient and sustainable use of natural resources to support improved quality compliance for a range of key food crops.
Dr Babar Bajwa, CABI Regional Director, Central and West Asia, said, “Ultimately, the arrangement will improve the competitiveness of food value chains by engaging farmers, processors and exporters while at the same time strengthening linkages between the government and CABI’s Plantwise programme.”
Plantwise is a global programme, which helps farmers lose less of what they grow to plant health problems. Working closely with national agricultural advisory services, the programme has established a global plant clinic network, run by trained plant doctors, where farmers can find practical plant health advice.
Mr Naeem Aslam, Country Coordinator Plantwise, Pakistan, took the opportunity to outline the objectives and benefits of the Plantwise programme to the delegation who were able to visit a local plant clinic in the province.
Mr Aslam said, “The Plantwise programme helps ensure attractive incomes and decent employment for those who live and work in rural areas through the efficient use of resources used in a sustainable manner.”
Talking to those on the field trip, Mr Mohib Ullah Khan showed his appreciation for CABI interventions for agriculture development and for uplifting the livelihoods of rural communities. He also lauded the efforts of the way in which the project team worked to achieve the agreed outcomes. These sentiments were echoed by Mr Israr Khan.
Additional information
Find out more about CABI in Pakistan from the centre page on CABI.org
https://www.cabi.org/cabi-news/
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