Agricultural produce: International experts stress value addition

Absence of a value chain hinders evelopment, say experts.

FAISALABAD: A team of European Union experts has said that Pakistan’s agricultural production is satisfactory, but the lack of a value chain is a constant hindrance to future development. The group was visiting the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad (UAF) on Wednesday as part of a Trade Related Technical Assistance Programme (TRTA). The delegation, headed by Team Leader Thierry Noyeltte who was accompanied by Senior Economist Heinz Wermer and Coordinator Jamal Haider, called on the UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

According to the experts, the country can earn substantial foreign exchange with its exports if it focuses on building a value chain. The delegates were of the opinion that agricultural productivity, although sufficiently high, needed complementary value addition as well. They said that the introduction of processing to agricultural produce would help it achieve international competency. The team said that they were working in this regard to achieve tangible results. They also discussed agricultural planning and related issues, and debated ways to boost the sector.

Dr Khan said that 92 per cent of the farming community had to make do with less than five acres of land, leading to challenges in achieving economies of scale. He said that 40 per cent of agricultural produce is lost after harvests due to different problems every year, which costs the agricultural economy dearly. He stressed the need to adopt modern techniques in this regard.

Dr Khan said that his university was working to introduce seedless Kinnows to the farming community, in view of international demand for the seeded variety of the fruit. He pointed out that dates produced indigenously could also earn substantial foreign exchange if exploited appropriately.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2012.