UNIDO commits to support food value chain development in GB, KP

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Pakistan successfully concluded a need assessment mission to Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.

During last week UNIDO explored the potential of agricultural produce of the areas and to help the government transform agriculture into agro-industry by addressing the gaps in various value chains for fresh fruits, dry fruits, fish and dairy sector, a statement said.

UNIDO, after a series of consultations, developed an on agro-industry development programme proposal for Pakistan, targeting three sectors, fresh fruits, dry stone fruits, trout fish as well as dairy.

The concept for value-addition was conceived in close collaboration with the federal Ministry of Food Security and Research as well as active participation of provincial agriculture departments.

The main objective was to assess the selected value chains relevant to provide assistance in processing, packaging, branding, certification as well as establishing linkages with national and international markets.

UNIDO has contributed $50,000 as seed money to undertake this need assessment for the formulation of the project document.

The anticipated budget for the project would be $3 million for phase I, to be mobilised from government of Pakistan and some other international donors, including UN funds.

A project formulation mission lead by Esam Alqararah, UNIDO representative, and comprising of Bassel Alkhatib, UNIDO project manager at UNIDO Head Office in Vienna, and Youssef Doughan, international food expert from Lebanon, undertook the field visit to Peshawar and Gilgit-Baltistan, where the meetings with various high level officials were held.

The mission also interacted with farmers and women associations to seek the problems faced by them and to identify the gaps where UNIDO could provide assistance for further strengthening of selected value chains.

The chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan during his meeting with UNIDO team asked for assistance to uplift poor communities in the area and to help the government to establish a certification system for various perishable commodities. A certification system for perishable commodities like cherry and apricot can help meet compliance and compatibility for export to China and minimise the post harvest losses.

The government of GB would also fund the project from local government resources.  UNIDO mission also had high level meetings at federal level including with Economic Affairs Division, where it was reiterated that UNIDO was working on much needed interventions via this project.

The government of Pakistan assured of its support for the project and of funding from local and international donors once the project document was finalised.