‘Neglect leaves agri sector underdeveloped’

Punjab CM says vast scope of development in the agriculture sector, no attention paid for last 63 years.

KARACHI: There is a vast scope of development in the agriculture sector but no attention has been paid in this direction for the last 63 years, according to Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.

In a meeting with the Vice President of Metro group, Anton Knijf, at the chief minister’s secretariat here on Wednesday, he said that modern technology and research can not only help increase agricultural output but also earn substantial foreign exchange. He said that China has made rapid progress by adopting modern technology in the agriculture sector.

He said that the Metro group has an important place at an international level in the food and agriculture sector and it should cooperate with Punjab to uplift this sector. He added that the Metro group should guide the government of Punjab regarding the period of time it would take for the province to export agricultural products worth two billion dollars.

Sharif said that the launching of star farms project in Punjab is a good beginning which will potentially eliminate the role of the middleman. This will also result in more profits for cultivators and also provide consumers with fresh vegetables at cheaper rates, he further stated.

Knijf said that Punjab has great potential for agriculture and livestock production and as the world’s largest food seller, the Metro group will cooperate with Punjab and achieve good results. He said that the star farms project will yield far reaching outcomes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2010.