USAID Pakistan on Tuesday launched "Agricultural Technology Transfer Activity" to boost agriculture productivity through introduction of modern technologies in Pakistan. The four-year project would cost $8.2 million and contribute towards an improved economic status of focus communities by increasing their income. It would improve small farmers' access to markets and their overall development.
The project will train dealers' networks and other demand-side partners through technical assistance to improve their marketing and management practices. The project's activities aim to increase productivity, build resilience to climate change and reduce post-harvest losses. At the end of the project implementation period, the expectation is to enhance the capacity of agricultural technology related businesses to commercialize technologies, modernize management practices while adopting sustainable practices and also to increase the overall adoption of agricultural technologies by small farmers.
The project was launched through collaboration of the USAID and the Ministry of National Foods Security and Research.
Partnering with roughly 30 of the largest private agriculture technology business, the four-year initiative will introduce advanced technologies to an estimated 122,500 farmers, whose agricultural sales are projected to reach $8.58 million.
"This project will help Pakistani farmers realize the full potential of their land and labor," said Mission Director USAID Jerry Bisson.
"Partnership with key private sector players will help connect farmers to one another, new techniques, timely weather data and the supply-chain network - all of which enhance productivity, build resilience to climate change and reduce post-harvest losses.
The technologies of the program which will be introduced to the horticulture industry include integrated pest management, controlled production, improved genetics and post-harvest handling and packaging. The livestock and daily sectors will benefit from nutrition and breed improvement, including artificial insemination and embryo transplants that will offer rapid improvement in livestock genetics.
"Our partnership with the USAID has lasted for decades, but with interventions such as these, the pace of development will increase multifold." We hope to support these initiatives over the project lifespan and beyond," he maintained.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief of party of the project said that the introduction and transfer of technology would help the country enhance productivity through best utilization of resources. The agriculture sector in Pakistan was badly affected due to lack of awareness about latest technologies. The project would help commercialize the use of technology in agriculture sector through coordination between farmers and technology companies. Purpose of the project is to reach about 175,000 stakeholders, he added. Initially the project would be initiated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and later it would be expanded to Balochistan and Sindh.
Another feature of the project is that it focused on women entrepreneur particularly related to agriculture sector.
"We want to improve investment in private sector through creation of linkages between demand and supply side." Under this project about 500 tools, technologies and practices will be commercialized and 225,000 individuals will receive awareness about improved agriculture technologies. The project will also help 24,500 women stakeholders to benefit from all these activities.
Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Dr Yusaf Zafar and officials of Pakistani Agriculture department also addressed the event.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.