Efforts afoot to fulfill SPS compliance, quality to promote agri-exports: Minister

ISLAMABAD, May 2 (APP):Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan here on Thursday said that government was making all efforts for enhancing exports of agriculture commodities by making full compliance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, besides addressing the quality issues and market access.

Addressing the US-Pakistan Partnership for Agriculture Market Development (AMD) closeout event, he said that use of modern technology in agri-sector under AMD initiative, exports of agriculture and livestock products from the country had witnessed significant increase.

The event was organized by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on the successful conclusion of four-year AMD program, which focused on improving agriculture sector for greater market access for fetching foreign exchange reserves for the country and alleviation of poverty.

The minister said that use of innovative machines like tree pruners, hydraulic sprayers, mango graders, blast chillers, cold stores, refer vans vacuum packages were introduced which had open new avenues in these sectors and resulted into enhanced exports and increase farm income.

He appreciated the support of USIAD for the development and uplift of local agriculture and livestock sectors and hoped that the cooperation would continued for further development of these sectors and improving the farm productivity.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Mission Director of USAID Clay Epperson said that goal of the project was to help Pakistani agriculture products gain access to bigger markets and provide supports for international marketing and sales efforts.

He said that USAID had provided technical assistance to farmers organizations and agriculture business and added over 29,000 jobs to Pakistanis economy and led to nearly US$ 84 million in private investment in agriculture sector.

He informed that more than 1000 women farmers and entrepreneurs were also trained on citrus and livestock production, management and business to business market development skills.

He said that first time electronic-beam technology was introduced to extend the shelf life of the foods and reduces spoilage, besides introducing new meat cut and packaging technologies for long shelf life for meat and meat products.

Clay Epperson reiterated the resolve of USAID for extending all possible cooperation in future for emerging as a major player in the international market.