Dutch team visits RCCI, discusses food security issues of Pakistan

Rawalpindi: A delegation of food experts, headed by Renate Pors, deputy head of the Netherlands Embassy, Tuesday visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). Romke Wustman, a world-class Dutch food security expert, was also accompanied with her. 

RCCI Acting President Saqib Rafiq, Vice President  Muhammad Aqil Obaid, members of the executive committee and a large number of traders were present on the occasion. 

Addressing the meeting, Renate Pors said that the Netherlands has a lot of expertise and solutions to offer Pakistan when it comes to food security. She said that food production is not the only aspect of food security. A crop is harvested in one season but must be used through the year. Food produced in one region can be consumed in another region. The Netherlands has expertise in various aspects of agricultural productivity, technologies and solutions which we are sharing with key stakeholders through these discussions.

Renate Pors expressed the commitment of Netherlands government on food security. She mentioned that one out of six children dies of malnutrition and every night one billion people go to bed hungry around the globe. She informed the audience that in the Netherlands we have a successful agricultural production and we are exporting seed and agricultural technology and solutions to other countries and Pakistan can take benefit of its expertise. Increasing production, providing packaging, storage and transport solutions and innovations are our expertise, she added.

Romke Wustman said that there is a need to build up local seed production which will only happen with the involvement of the private sector. Sustainability and competitive pricing are achieved through private sector activity. All parts of the agricultural chain are important and value addition can take place in handling, packing, branding, storage and transport. He said that Pakisatn, utilized roughly 3.4 million tons of seeds and its demands are growing every year.

Due to inadequate store management, lack of modern storage facilities, and cold storages, Pakistan losses 30-40 per cent, he added. Romke also discussed seed concepts, viability, multiplication, certification and modern storage concepts with the participants and shared some vital information in this regard.