Endowment: WFP to help save wheat stocks
PASSCO receives storage kits worth Rs14.7 million to cut post-harvest losses.
WFP’s programme of work aims to assist 8.3 million people between 2013 and 2015 at a total cost of $535 million. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has provided 165 high density polyethylene stack packages (known as Gunji kits) worth Rs14.7 million to store 58,000 metric tons of wheat, to the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) in a joint effort to reduce post-harvest losses. Previously, WFP supplied 500 kits along with 10 wheat cleaning/grading machines to Passco in 2012.
During a ceremony organised at Passco headquarters in Lahore on Thursday, WFP Representative and Country Director, Lola Castro, handed over these kits to the Acting Managing Director, Lt Col (Retd) Muhammad Younis.
Chief of Provincial Office at WFP in Punjab, Shahzada Rashid, and senior Passco General Managers and officials were also present on the occasion.
According to recent studying, post-harvest losses in Pakistan are estimated at 10 -15%. About 78% of wheat is stacked in the open, making it the main reason for the losses. Passco has started to gradually improve its storage capacity in order to protect the wheat and obtain improved shelf-life and quality.
“The contribution of kits over the past two years is part of WFP’s co-investment with the government of Pakistan in achieving enhanced and effective storage of wheat, in order to reduce post-harvest losses due to spoilage and infestation,” said Lola Castro.
“This initiative has the added benefit of improving food security in Pakistan by increasing the amount and quality of wheat available for consumption by the population,” Castro further added.
“The kits provided by WFP will enhance protection of wheat stacked in areas where Passco is unable to. Since the tarpaulin using to cover the grain with, are no longer resistant to climatic conditions, these Gunji kits are very useful and will last for at least two years. We are very pleased to acknowledge the support provided by WFP which will enable Passco to further improve its wheat storage capacity and the quality of wheat”, said Managing Director of Passco, Lt Col Retd Muhammad Younis.
WFP works in close collaboration with the government of Pakistan, and aligns its strategies with national priorities, addressing food security and nutrition concerns in the country.
WFP’s programme of work aims to assist 8.3 million people between 2013 and 2015 at a total cost of $535 million. It seeks to improve economic opportunities and promote social inclusion in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The programme also intends to boost community resilience in disaster-prone areas, and address nutrition and education issues in the country.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting against hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2013.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has provided 165 high density polyethylene stack packages (known as Gunji kits) worth Rs14.7 million to store 58,000 metric tons of wheat, to the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) in a joint effort to reduce post-harvest losses. Previously, WFP supplied 500 kits along with 10 wheat cleaning/grading machines to Passco in 2012.
During a ceremony organised at Passco headquarters in Lahore on Thursday, WFP Representative and Country Director, Lola Castro, handed over these kits to the Acting Managing Director, Lt Col (Retd) Muhammad Younis.
Chief of Provincial Office at WFP in Punjab, Shahzada Rashid, and senior Passco General Managers and officials were also present on the occasion.
According to recent studying, post-harvest losses in Pakistan are estimated at 10 -15%. About 78% of wheat is stacked in the open, making it the main reason for the losses. Passco has started to gradually improve its storage capacity in order to protect the wheat and obtain improved shelf-life and quality.
“The contribution of kits over the past two years is part of WFP’s co-investment with the government of Pakistan in achieving enhanced and effective storage of wheat, in order to reduce post-harvest losses due to spoilage and infestation,” said Lola Castro.
“This initiative has the added benefit of improving food security in Pakistan by increasing the amount and quality of wheat available for consumption by the population,” Castro further added.
“The kits provided by WFP will enhance protection of wheat stacked in areas where Passco is unable to. Since the tarpaulin using to cover the grain with, are no longer resistant to climatic conditions, these Gunji kits are very useful and will last for at least two years. We are very pleased to acknowledge the support provided by WFP which will enable Passco to further improve its wheat storage capacity and the quality of wheat”, said Managing Director of Passco, Lt Col Retd Muhammad Younis.
WFP works in close collaboration with the government of Pakistan, and aligns its strategies with national priorities, addressing food security and nutrition concerns in the country.
WFP’s programme of work aims to assist 8.3 million people between 2013 and 2015 at a total cost of $535 million. It seeks to improve economic opportunities and promote social inclusion in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The programme also intends to boost community resilience in disaster-prone areas, and address nutrition and education issues in the country.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting against hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2013.