Pakistan can easily expand agricultural exports

We are an agrarian society and agriculture is our backbone. 22% of national GDP’s share comes from agriculture and Punjab is sharing 70 % for this national growth. 

Agriculture sector has great potential, we need to enhance our productivity and have to keep our goods fresh through food irradiation technology.

Dr. Farrukh Javed, Minister for Agriculture Punjab stated this while addressing the opening session of two days International Conference on “Commercial Exploitation of Food Irradiation technology in Pakistan.

Dr. Farrukh said that food irradiation keeps food items fresh for longer period by purifying food from bacteria. Public health agencies world wide have approved this technology. It’s far better that the use of chemicals for preservation of food items. We have to spread awareness among stake holders for coping with the challenges of international market, the minister added.

International conference is arranged by the collaborative efforts of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial research (PCSIR) and Nuclear Institute for food and Agriculture (NIFA) where number of national and foreign scientists participated.

Agricultural experts and scientists explained in the conference that Gamma radiations of low frequency are passed through food items which kill the bacteria and food can be stored for maximum time.