Sindh govt seeks foreign help to mechanise agriculture

CM urges ambassador of Belarus to send samples of the threshers and other agricultural machinery for demonstrations

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to mechanize agriculture to increase productivity in the province. This was announced by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah during his meeting with the ambassador of Uzbekistan and the ambassador of Belarus Andrei Ermolovich, who called on him at the CM House on Tuesday.

"We are working hard on this issue and necessary technical support would be taken from Uzbekistan and Belarus," he said adding that Sindh was one of the largest cotton growing provinces. "I want to introduce latest techniques of sowing and picking cotton so that the best yield and quality picking could be ensured," he said. The ambassador of Uzbekistan offered to establish a technical institute in Sindh which would offer specialised graduation and post-graduation degrees in agriculture. He also offered to install a special plant to manufacture agriculture machinery.



The CM said that an Uzbekistan Agriculture Institute could be established at Tando Jam Agriculture University where they could also install a factory to produce agriculture machinery.

Shah also directed Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu to coordinate with Uzbekistan Embassy for making necessary documentation and agreements for the establishment of agriculture institute and installation of an agricultural equipment manufacturing facility.

The CM congratulated Uzbek envoy on starting a direct airline from Lahore to Uzbekistan and launching Uzbekistan- Pakistan Economic forum.  The visiting envoy told Shah that from March 2019 a direct flight from Karachi would also be started. The CM said that this connectivity would further strengthen people to people contact and improve trade and commerce between the two Muslim brother countries.

In another meeting with ambassador of Belarus, the CM discussed mechanisation of agriculture in Sindh. The ambassador said that they designed special threshers with dual facility that can thrash both, wheat and rice. "These threshers are affordable and their spare parts are easily available," he told Shah.

The CM urged the ambassador to send samples of the threshers and other agricultural machinery for demonstrations so that they could be introduced through the agriculture chambers.

The CM directed the agriculture department to coordinate with Belarus embassy for import of samples.

Shah also met with the ambassador of Nepal Sewa Lamsal Adhikari at the CM House to discuss bilateral issues and matters of mutual interest.

The CM presented traditional ajrak, Sindhi cap, CDs of Sindhi music and traditional shawls to the visiting guests.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2018.