News
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Govt to mainstream food security in public policy: PMLAHORE: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday said the establishment of ‘Ministry of National Food Security and Research’ reflected the government’s resolve to mainstream the food security agenda in the public policy. He said the government attached high priority to the development of dairy and livestock sector involving eight million families, which derived more than 35 percent income from this sector.
The PM was addressing Pakistan Dairy Industry Conference 2012 under the USAID’s Entrepreneurs Project. Punjab Governor Latif Khosa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, National Heritage and Integration Minister Samina Khalid Ghurki, State Minister for National Food Security and Research Moazzam Ali Khan Jatoi, US Ambassador Richard Olson and USAID Deputy Mission Director Jafri Beacon were also present on the occasion.
According to a statement by the USAID, the US is committed to working with dairy farmers to help them protect their livestock from disease, improve the quality of their products, and increase their profits. Ambassador Olson highlighted two US assistance programmes designed to achieve these objectives – the Entrepreneurs Project and the Dairy Project, it added.
It stated the Entrepreneurs Project offers workshops to help Pakistani dairy farmers sharpen their business skills, develop new products and services, and raise their incomes. The Dairy Project is a public-private partnership with Nestle Pakistan and the Dairy and Rural Development Foundation that has trained 9,000 dairy farmers and 5,000 small agribusinesses to help them protect their livestock, improve the quality of their products, and increase revenue. “Since 2010, more than 22,000 dairy farmers affected by the devastating floods have been able to double their incomes through the US-funded Entrepreneurs Project,” said Ambassador Olson at the conference.
Through other initiatives that support the agricultural sector, the US has trained more than 750 veterinarians and lab technicians to prevent the spread of the deadly Foot and Mouth Virus, and provided vaccinations to protect 110,000 dairy cows, buffalo, and yaks from the disease.
Speaking at the conference, PM Raja stated, “Today’s Dairy Industry Conference is important because it demonstrates that the US and Pakistan are working to create an economic partnership based on trade, not just aid.” The statement said the conference is just one component of a comprehensive US economic assistance programme which creates jobs and boosts incomes through projects that expand Pakistan’s agricultural output, build roads to facilitate trade, and help grow small- and medium-size businesses. app/prCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk