Rs 2.024 billion earmarked to introduce traceability in agriculture, livestock products

Punjab government has planned to expand suppliers base of the traceable products from the existing level of 20 to 250 during current year, for which an incentive package of Rs 2.024 billion has been allocated to introduce traceability in agricultural and livestock products.
Pakistan's projection with 20 fully traceable agricultural and livestock products at Germany was an historic achievement of the provincial government, said Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmed Ali Aulakh here at Agriculture House, Lahore on Thursday. He was addressing a post International Green Week (IGW) briefing here about success stories, the lessons learnt and the way forward for prospects of exports of Agriculture & Livestock products.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed; Star Farm, Asia, CEO Hans Peter, high officials of Agriculture Department, large number of exhibitors, farmers and representatives of print and electronic media were also present. Talking to media men, Ahmed Ali Aulakh said that participation of Punjab in International Green Week (IGW) at Germany had not only helped in improving soft image of Pakistan but had also introduced it as an emerging country for supply of traceable products for the world to meet food supply demand of ever increasing global population.
He said Punjab government had diverted substantial resources to develop science-based, vibrant and internationally linked agriculture sector that could not only meet the food security challenges but also compete in domestic as well as in international markets.
Punjab Government has entered into certification regime to produce fully traceable agricultural and livestock products to reach high end markets of the developed world and to enhance export up to two billion dollars annually, he added. He said Pakistan had the potential to become one of the largest economies of the world after Germany.
He further apprised that Punjab government had allocated Rs 2.024 billion for a mega project to improve supply chain of selected agricultural and livestock products for improving quality and introducing traceability as per international market standards and requirements.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed, said that participation of Punjab in IGW proved a milestone to showcase traceable agricultural and livestock products from Punjab and to project Pakistan. He further said that display of traceable agricultural and livestock products at IGW had opened the doors of high end markets of the world leading towards generation of tremendous business opportunities for Pakistan.
He said Punjab government provided space to the private sector/ exhibitors to showcase their products at the Punjab's pavilion where thousands of visitors witnessed traceable products from Punjab. He said that rice dishes with traceable vegetables were also offered to the hundreds of the stall visitors every day.
During the IGW, several dignitaries like Mrs Kopp, member German parliament, CEO Metro, DG Global Gap, and Directors of IFS and Bayer crop sciences also visited stall of Pakistan. All the visitors appreciated efforts of Pakistan to produce traceable products which would help enhance trade with the EU countries, he said.
Responding to a question, he said markets like Metro, having over 2,000 stores and Carrefour having about 15,000 stores in EU countries showed special interest in Pakistani products. Metro has even offered free office space for the association of traceable suppliers.
Responding to another question, Secretary Agriculture said that two sales teams were constituted for marketing of traceable products from Pakistan, which no other country had in the world as of today. Each sales team comprised one member from government, one from Star Farm and three to four members from the exhibitors.
While elaborating the way forward for the year 2012, he said the government had planned to expand suppliers base of the traceable products from the existing level of 20 to 250, assist farmers and suppliers of traceable products to form an association by establishing offices in Lahore, Dubai and Germany.
Agriculture Department will promote this new concept of marketing through road-shows, and will also hold a mega event 'World Agriculture Forum' in Punjab on the pattern of 'World Economic Forum' Davos, Switzerland. He further said that a delegation for study tour to China would also be sent for learning use of modern system and techniques for productivity enhancement in collaboration with Bayer crop sciences and Star Farm China. He stated that exports of horticulture products from the existing level of dollars 360 million to dollars one billion and that of livestock products from the existing level of dollars 40 million to one billion would be achieved very soon in the coming years.