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Pak-Australia to boost citrus, mango production,
marketing
Staff Reporter
Islamabad—Dr Zafar Altaf, Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research
Council (PARC) has said that the Australian funded project was
playing a vital role in the development of citrus and mango crops in
Pakistan, from production up to the marketing chain. He stated while
chairing a review meeting of the projects under the
Australia-Pakistan Linkage Programme (ASLP) at PARC headquarters
here Saturday. Dr Zafar Altaf, however, called upon the agricultural
scientists and the federal and provincial agriculture extension
experts to extend their knowledge and expertise to the farmers at
grassroots levels so as to minimize the post harvest losses and
maximize the production and marketing of the agricultural products.
Chairman PARC also emphasized the need for integrating the
production, marketing and supply chains systems for the optimum
benefits of the end users. He said that research work done through
ASLP projects on citrus and mango and technologies developed should
be introduced to farmers on priority basis. He appreciated the
Australian team and the scientists who were engaged in ASLP projects
for development of these fruit crops.
It may be recalled that the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR) operates as part of Australia’s
development assistance programme within the foreign affairs and
trade portfolio. However, it does not carryout research itself, but
brings together researchers from Australian and developing partner
country institutions to work collaboratively on problems of mutual
interest, to develop more productive and sustainable agricultural
systems.
In Pakistan, ACIAR is working in close collaboration with PARC, the
apex agricultural research organization of the country. The ASLP has
a total budget of 6.6 million Australian dollars. Its objective is
to transfer Australian knowledge and expertise to key sectors of
Pakistan agribusiness to increase profitability and enhance export
potential.
Onthe, occasionChristianRothandLesBaxter fromACIAR and David Kelly
from AusAid also expressed their views on ASLP funded projects after
having a detailed tour of the projects sites in different parts of
the Punjab. Earlier, Dr Shahid Ahmad, Member, Natural Resources
Division, PARC; Dr Iftikhar, Director General NARC and other
agricultural scientists made presentations of their respective areas
of cooperation. The representatives from MINFAL and the provincial
agricultural and livestock departments beside Shahida Jamil,
Director (Planning) PARC and the program coordinator also shared
views on the achievements under the Australian assistance programme.
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