ISLAMABAD: Two delegations of agricultural experts from Pakistan will visit Brazil next year to promote technical cooperation in different fields of agriculture sector especially to boost sugarcane crop and improve small farmers conditions.
This was stated by Bruno de Amorim Maciel, project analyst (Brazilian Cooperation Agency-ABC) while addressing a press conference along with members of the Brazilian delegation here at embassy of Brazil after completing five day visit to Pakistan.
Brazilian ambassador to Pakistan Alfredo Leoni and other members of the delegation Gabriel Alves Maciel, Expert on genetic expert on phytopathology (Pernambuco Institute of Agronomy), Vanildo Alberto Leal Bezerra Cavalcanti, expert on phytopathology (Pernambuco Institute of Agronomy) and Munucio Monteriro Filho, expert on technical assistance and rural extension (Pernambuco Institute of Agronomy) and First Secretary Thomaz Napoleao of the Embassy of Brazil were also present on this occasion.
The four member delegation visited Pakistan from October 10 to 14 to extend technical help and assistance for different crops to boost agricultural production.
It was the first ever visit of technical cooperation mission from the Brazilian government to Pakistan and the members of the delegation held meetings with the representatives of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Ministry of Industries and Production, Economic Affairs Division, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC).
Following the visit of the delegation Brazilian mission agreed to offer technical cooperation to Pakistan through the sharing of Brazilian knowledge, technology and expertise.
In this regard, two delegations of Pakistani agricultural specialists will visit Brazil in early 2012.
Giving details, Bruno de Amorim Maciel said one delegation will be focused on sugarcane, cotton and germplasm exchange while the other mission will learn from the Brazilian experience in rural extension and in pubic policies for the benefit of small farmers.
He said these initiatives will be confirmed by bilateral documents to be signed during the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar to Brazil in last week of next month.
Appreciating the research work in agriculture sector, the members of the delegation were of the view with technical help and cooperation from Brazil, Pakistan can improve its per acre yield of different crops.
They also offered assistance and cooperation to Pakistan to introduce virus resisted seeds of cotton to find a solution to Pakistan's cotton crop that has been affected by virus.
The members of the delegation said Brazil is acknowledged as a global leader in agriculture and livestock, particularly in products such as sugarcane, ethanol, soybeans, coffee, beef and dairy cattle, poultry, oranges and other fruits and can extend technical assistance to Pakistan in all these areas to improve production.
The Brazilian Cooperation Agency is currently implementing nearly 800 projects in over 70 developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The Brazilian ambassador Alfredo Leoni, while highlighting the visit of the technical agriculture experts said, although it is the first ever visit to Pakistan but due to similarities in crops and pattern, there are bright prospects for expanding relations in agriculture sector between the two countries.
The ambassador said Brazil had achieved tremendous improvement in agriculture sector and it is now 33 percent of its GDP and contributing 38 percent in the exports of Brazil.
Pakistan also sought help from Brazil to enhance quality and productivity of ethanol.
The members of the Brazilian delegation said there is potential for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of ethanol production, renewable energy, hybrid seed production, off-season vegetable production, bio fuel, resource conservation and pests control technology.
They said Brazil had an advanced ethanol producing technology and was using 100 percent ethanol in the vehicles since last 20 years.
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