PESHAWAR: Chairman FPCCI Regional Standing Committee on Horticulture Exports Ahmad Jawad has demanded of the government to formulate horticulture export policy on the pattern of textile policy in consultation with all stakeholders with proper budgetary allocation on yearly basis.
In a statement here, Ahmed Jawad said, government should allocate funds for promoting hybrid seed industry in Pakistan under private-public partnership (PPP) in 2016-17 budget.
He urged setting up of different projects under private-public partnerships or through some other arrangement including cool chain infrastructure, ripening centers for fruits, food processing and value addition industry, agro-processing industry and accredited testing laboratories at production hubs, particularly in KPK province to ensure availability of good quality produce to enhance exports.
Secondly government should also identify new export markets and sign protocols and agreements to remove bottlenecks for enhancing exports, besides a loan scheme for rural youths for promoting agriculture services should be introduced.
Restructure of Pakistan Horticulture & Development Export Company (PHDEC) was required with budget allocation from the finance division for support horticulture sector and established supply chain.
Jawad also demanded that funds for Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) for farmers may be disbursed of the areas affected by natural disasters and calamities, wide-spread diseases and unpredictable weather conditions through proper mechanism and in transparent manner.
However, FPCCI Standing Committee Chairman claimed that production of various farm products has been very low if compared with the global benchmark and without investing in this sector, country exports and GDP growth would not increase.
Pakistan agricultural sector also faces larger post-harvest losses of 40pc, when compared globally, he said and added that this double blow low output and high losses, diminishes the income of growers further, he concluded.-Reuters
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