KP government, Telenor sign MoU

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Telenor Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint collaboration in dissemination of swift and timely information to small growers through mobile network regarding prices, floods alerts, advocacy for yielding better crops, purchasing of Agriculture inputs, and better management in livestock and agriculture sectors.
Under the agreement, the Telenor Pakistan will disseminate swiftly all relevant information through its network to small growers provided by KP government. The growers would also provide a platform for purchasing of agriculture inputs through the joint agreement.
The KP Secretary Agriculture & Livestock, Mohammad Akhtar Khan, and Vice President (Financial Services), Telenor Pakistan, Roar Bjaerum signed agreement "Agriculture Commodity Trade Project" during a formal ceremony held here at local hotel. KP Minister for Agriculture, Arbab Ayub Jan, Minister for Livestock, Hidayatullah, Minister for Information Technology, Syed Ayub Khan Ashari, and relevant officials were also present.
Roar Bjaerum, Vice President (Financial Services), Telenor Pakistan, while highlighting the significance of the agreement on the occasion said that the project would helpful for providing optimal and timely information to small growers for yielding better crops and catering prime needs of their cattle.
Bajaerum further said that a concrete strategy would be evolved for better management in livestock and agriculture sectors to provide sufficient support to farmers for exporting crops and livestock products. He expressed the hope that project would helpful for economic empowerment of small growers and poverty alleviation in the province.
KP Minister for Agriculture, Arbab Ayub Jan, in his address said that government had taken gradual steps for improvement of socio-economic status of the small farmers, saying that the Agriculture and Livestock sectors are contribution 25 percent of the total GDP.
The Provincial Minister informed that about 80 percent industries had closed in the prevailing uncertain situation of the province. He stressed the need for sharing modern techniques and modern know-how among farmers.
Arbab Ayub informed that government has planned to launch agriculture insurance scheme in the province. He assured that government would extend every possible support to successful implement the project in the province.
The Provincial Minister for Livestock, Hidayatullah Khan while speaking on the occasion said that the Agriculture and Livestock sectors have important role in development of economy, saying that government has taken proactive steps for provision of all facilities to small growers.
He appreciated the Telenor Pakistan initiative for facilitating farmers through their services and expressed the hope that small growers would take full benefits for yielding their crops, improvement in livestock and dairy products and other issues. The Director IT & Administration, Arbab Usman also spoke on the occasion.