Mango farmers to get processing facilities

They will produce fruit byproducts for world markets.

FAISALABAD: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has introduced a new window of business enterprises, aimed at involving farmers in agro business and manufacturing of agricultural byproducts to enhance their profits by making available small processing units for value addition.

In a bid to promote agro business in rural areas, the UAF has asked funding agencies and NGOs to make arrangements for providing processing and value addition facilities for farmers of Azad Jammu and Kashmir producing organic mango, which will check growing migration to urban areas and engage domestic women in economic activities.

Under the university’s outreach programme, an event for branding organic pickle and jam was organised at a mango orchard, which brought together locals involved in producing organic mango byproducts.

Addressing the participants, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad said the organic produce of the valley needed to be showcased and introduced in the world market as rich people of the West and Middle East spent millions of dollars on organic food.

Referring to his recent visit to the valley with German and British scientists, Ahmad said German colleagues would help the university in getting the organic produce registered.

He vowed to offer short courses on preparing mango byproducts to AJK women in order to promote the cottage industry.

Former provincial livestock minister Mumtaz Khan Manhais was of the view that rootstock of organic mango should be preserved.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2012.