ISLAMABAD: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Thursday called for formation of Rice Development Board (RDB), aimed at development of the sector and boost its exports for the benefit of the country.
According to an FPCCI statement, Abdul Rahim Janoo, its Sr. Vice President, had written a letter to Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, Federal Commerce Minister and Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for Food Security & Research in this regard.
He urged them to constitute a Rice Development Board (RDB) for providing a single platform to effectively and forcefully deal with the issues - related to development and promotion of all varieties of rice grown in the country, especially the unique Basmati rice as well as regular paddy - of all the stakeholders on Board.
The SVP of FPCCI was of the view that Rice exports on an average was stuck-up at around $ 2 billion per annum mainly due to the lack of knowledge about latest research & development in the field of new rice varieties that yield more at lower cost and are acceptable to the global market.
He disclosed, "Our competitors have come up with such products due to market oriented or demand driven research in consultation with all the stakeholders (rice growers, millers, exporters, traders etc.) on one platform, whereas, on the contrary, our research has been exclusive and in isolation, either in public or private sectors".
The FPCCI's Sr. Vice President added that formation of the proposed "Rice Development Board" based on public-private partnership concept would transcend across all barriers both designed and unintended and would have two chapters, namely, Basmati Chapter and Paddy Chapter (for regular non Basmati rice paddy).
"It would have the Federal and Provincial bodies and institutions seamlessly on the Board besides private sector as well as technical experts both from public and private sectors", he elaborated.
He further said that the proposed Board would be headed by a Federal Secretary as Governor of the Board with Deputy Governors, one each for Basmati and Paddy Chapters, from the rice exporting body to better define market demand criteria.
Abdul Rahim Janoo, SVP, FPCCI therefore, asked both the Commerce Minister and Food Minister to extend their cooperation for formation of such a venture.
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