PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed on Wednesday to enhance bilateral cooperation and share expertise in the fields of agriculture and livestock for their development in both the countries.
The understanding was reached in a meeting between Uzbekistan Ambassador to Pakistan Furkat A Sidikov and Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc) Chairman Yousuf Zafar.
The ambassador also visited the National Agricultural Research Centre (Narc) and discussed various avenues of mutual cooperation for the development of agriculture sectors of both the countries.
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During the meeting, the two sides discussed areas of mutual interests including agriculture, agro-machinery manufacturing, food processing, dry fruits, fresh fruits, cotton, milk and its by-products and leather.
Speaking on the occasion, Parc Chairman Yusuf Zafar informed the Uzbek ambassador of the tremendous opportunities for mutual cooperation in the above-mentioned areas. He also highlighted the importance of these sub-sectors of agriculture for the country’s economy.
“Pakistan, being an agro-based economy, relies heavily on agriculture for both employment and growth,” Zafar said, adding 70% of gross domestic product (GDP) depends on the agricultural sector while 45% of the country’s labour force came from the agriculture sector.
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Zafar expressed keen interest in the agriculture machinery manufacturing capacity of Uzbekistan and stressed the need for initiating joint ventures for machinery manufacturing in Pakistan for a greater and cheaper mechanisation of farm practices.
He said Pakistan was struggling to increase per-acre yield and required advanced agricultural equipment while Uzbekistan was far ahead in producing technologically advanced equipment.
Agricultural experts believe Uzbekistan is producing agriculture machinery of a far better quality than the machinery produced in India and China, Zafar said, adding that mechanised cultivation can double the yield in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2017.
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