US-Pak Green Alliance framework to increase agricultural productivity, farmers income: Blome

ISLAMABAD: Referring to the accomplishments aligned perfectly with the objectives of the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome on Wednesday vowed that through the “Green Alliance,” the countries are working together to increase agricultural productivity and farmers’ incomes in addition to preserving soil and water resources.

He reminded that agriculture is a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, adding that the US and Pakistan have and will continue to broaden and deepen cooperation and collaboration across this important sector.

He said this while addressing a ceremony to celebrate the Pakistan Agricultural Development (PAD) project, a 20.9-million-dollar US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded initiative with a wide array of impressive accomplishments.

The US envoy reminded that Pakistan and his country were collaboratively striving to provide farmers, ranchers and foresters with innovative revenue streams. “Joint efforts aim to assist farmers in adopting climate-smart agricultural practices while expanding market options and ensuring fairer prices for their produce,” he said.

Ambassador Blome recalled: “Together, we provided 63,000 farmers with training on using good agriculture practices. We introduced new production techniques and improved post-harvest storage and processing. We established model plots with select farmers and private sector service providers to demonstrate the benefits of these practices. Also jobs were created for 600 women in Khairpur and other cities of Sindh through the establishment of three date-pitting centres,” he said. He said the PAD grants enabled farmers to build high-efficiency drip irrigation systems, tomato processing unit, cold storage facilities and banana packing houses. And through marketing and credit programmes, the project strengthened commercial linkages with both upstream and downstream businesses. In addition to the PAD programme, he said: “We celebrate today, scientists from USDA and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research joined forces to develop bio-pesticides specifically for Pakistan’s growing conditions.” “Together, we are finalising a regulatory framework to allow the marketing of eco-friendly crop protection products. And we are providing farmers with tools to use fertilisers more efficiently,” the envoy said. He said that with KP’s sustainable development unit, the US is training women farmers, building irrigation schemes, and partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organisation to sustain alternative livelihood opportunities in the newly-merged districts of KP. “The USDA endowments established more than 20 years ago at five Pakistani institutions continue to fund research and training in agriculture.”