Experts call for stronger tea sector, agro-tourism promotion at Hazara University event

MANSEHRA, May 12 (APP):On the occasion of the 7th National Tea Day, an agro-tourism event was organized at Hazara University with participation from students and experts representing various universities.

Speakers at the event stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy and dedicated efforts to promote tea cultivation in Pakistan.

They noted that the country is currently importing tea worth billions of rupees annually, resulting in a heavy burden on valuable foreign exchange reserves. The speakers emphasized that effective coordination between government institutions and tea growers could help reduce imports and strengthen local tea production.

The participants also highlighted the importance of promoting tea gardens as tourist attractions, saying that tea cultivation in mountainous regions around the world has not only provided income to farmers but has also contributed to the growth of tourism and additional economic opportunities.

Director of National Tea and High Value Crops Research Institute said during the event that he had recently attended a conference in Malaysia, where experts informed him that coffee could also be cultivated in areas suitable for tea farming. He added that he had brought coffee seeds from Malaysia for experimental cultivation in the region.

Following the ceremony, participants visited the tea gardens and reviewed ongoing efforts related to tea cultivation and agro-tourism development.