Pakistan, US agree to enhance agriculture research scope

Agricultural Counselor of US Embassy in Pakistan Clay Hamilton called on Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan and discussed possibilities to launch different programmes for increasing farmers income in the country, said a press release.

The minister said the government was fully committed to modernize agricultural infrastructure of the country in order to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

He said rapid climate change was greatly affecting the agricultural system in the country and there was a need to further enhance collaborative research between the two countries in the field of agriculture to ensure future food security.

Sikandar Bosan appreciated the work of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Pakistan to improve agriculture infrastructure by launching various programmes and projects of agri-development. He also discussed the matter of export of Pakistani mangoes to the US markets and possibilities for facilitating its exporters.

Hamilton assured to look into the matter of exports of Pakistani mangoes to the US and said the USDA in collaboration with provincial livestock departments was also working on a programme to control Foot And Mouth Disease (FMD) in animals.

He said the USDA was sponsoring a programme of sending wheat scientists of Pakistan to the US for further capacity building and training to further promote per acre crop output.

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Courtesy The Nation