Supply chain: Pakistan fails to adopt global standards
Farmers asked to follow accepted international agricultural practices.
FAISALABAD:
Pakistan is lagging behind in adopting international standards of grading, packing, transportation, storage and hygiene and farmers should follow principles of Global Partnership for Good Agricultural Practices (Global GAP) to improve their produce, according to an agricultural expert.
Speaking to agriculture, livestock and poultry farmers at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad here on Saturday, Supply Chain Project Coordinator Dr Rafiq-ur-Rehman said the Punjab government would start a programme worth billions of rupees for improving supply chain of 15 selected agricultural and livestock products according to international standards. As a result, these products would be recognised and sold in markets of developed countries.
Under this programme, 3,000 farmers would be trained to help them acquire Global GAP certification to follow international standards. Of these farmers, 2,250 will be related to agriculture and 750 to livestock.
He said a traceability bar and logo would be printed on each packing of export products. About financial assistance, he said 70 per cent of the estimated cost for supply chain of agricultural and livestock products would be provided to the stakeholders, who would participate in the programme this year.
In the second year, 50 per cent of the expected cost will be given to the stakeholders while in the third year, 30 per cent financial assistance will be provided.
For financial assistance, farmers can obtain application forms from the District Officer Extension, District Officer Livestock or can be downloaded from the website of Punjab Agriculture Department.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2011.
Pakistan is lagging behind in adopting international standards of grading, packing, transportation, storage and hygiene and farmers should follow principles of Global Partnership for Good Agricultural Practices (Global GAP) to improve their produce, according to an agricultural expert.
Speaking to agriculture, livestock and poultry farmers at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad here on Saturday, Supply Chain Project Coordinator Dr Rafiq-ur-Rehman said the Punjab government would start a programme worth billions of rupees for improving supply chain of 15 selected agricultural and livestock products according to international standards. As a result, these products would be recognised and sold in markets of developed countries.
Under this programme, 3,000 farmers would be trained to help them acquire Global GAP certification to follow international standards. Of these farmers, 2,250 will be related to agriculture and 750 to livestock.
He said a traceability bar and logo would be printed on each packing of export products. About financial assistance, he said 70 per cent of the estimated cost for supply chain of agricultural and livestock products would be provided to the stakeholders, who would participate in the programme this year.
In the second year, 50 per cent of the expected cost will be given to the stakeholders while in the third year, 30 per cent financial assistance will be provided.
For financial assistance, farmers can obtain application forms from the District Officer Extension, District Officer Livestock or can be downloaded from the website of Punjab Agriculture Department.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2011.