Rice exporters launched COVID-19 awareness campaign for rice growers

ISLAMABAD, Apr 04 (APP): Rice exporters have launched a corona awareness campaign for rice farmers and also distributed various items including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect them from the epidemic.

Rice growers are the world’s first food security defense line, whose epidemic protection should be our top priority, Chief Operating Officer of rice exporter group, Rice Partners Pvt Ltd (RPL) Muhammad Ali Tariq said, while addressing to awareness campaign and workshop participant organized by RPL here on Sunday.

The CEO said rice growers are the world’s first food security defense line, whose epidemic protection should be our top priority.

Rice farmers are an integral part of the agro-industry and are an essential element of this food chain, he said.

Ali Tariq said that Pakistan’s rice production of more than four million and around US $ three billion in foreign exchange are due to the farmers whose services, “we will never forget.”

Replying to a question, he said that “We organized a preventive vaccination campaign for the agricultural families including rice transplanters for the different regions of Central Punjab to protect them from epidemics.”

Rice Partners (Pvt) Ltd (RPL) in collaboration with Helvetas Pakistan organized a preventive vaccination campaign for rice transplanter’s families in three villages namely Kot Hanif, Khatyala Virkan and Saikham of different district of Punjab including Sheikhupura, Muhammad Ali Tariq said.

He said approximately 400 persons participated in the campaign.

Ali Tariq said RPL is working for betterment of farmers and farm laborers from past many years through provision of laser land leveling, trainings on water saving techniques, and ensuring decent working conditions for rice transplanters and their children by establishing Community Child care Centres, distribution of food packs and backpack canopy kits.

He said that “we try our best to improve the livelihood of the farmers.”
So far about 28,000 farmers are trained by RPL.

Chanda Mukhtar from Punjab Health Department delivered a lecture on the importance of COVID-19 vaccination for agro workers.

She said COVID-19 pandemic is global phenomena, which affected the people of the different regions and agri- workers should adopt the measure to protect themselves from this disease.

She said that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have a very significant function to save from this pandemic and farmers must ensure the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) from government and different organizations.

Chanda Mukhtar stressed the need for safety of children and women ,who are more vulnerable from this pandemic.