Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman Wednesday attended as chief guest Online Forum on “China-Pakistan Agricultural Products Processing Cooperation and Exchange” jointly organized by Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and KP-Board of Investment & Trade.
The forum underscored the importance of agriculture cooperation under CPEC Phase II. During the Course of discussion the forum emphasized the significance of Agriculture For food security and as a contributing factor for the Sustainable Development Goal of food security.
Speaking on the session via video link, the Chief Guest, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman highlighted the agriculture friendly ecosystem and environment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is fit for Agriculture growth and diversity. He mentioned that KP is blessed with natural endowments, best weather cycle and bio diversity where the agriculture outputs which are fruits and vegetables are all organic as compared to the rest of the world, where these products are mostly hybrid. He also highlighted that Sidr Honey produced in KP is of the best quality with only 6-9 % sugar contents which is very rare, adding some districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa like Mianwali, Bhakkar, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Kohat has huge potential in the production of Sidr Honey because these areas are much suitable in sidr plantation.
The Governor said that we are working on a qualitative Olive plantation and a task has been given to the Agriculture and Forest Department in this regard. He said that our country especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has huge potential in production of Olive, Fresh & Dry Fruits, Sidr Honey and saffron and we are quite ready to start these initiatives through cooperative farming and engaging youth by giving them readymade business in the mentioned fields.
He said that KP has areas of high altitude like Chitral which are most suitable for the production of Saffron.
The Governor also highlighted the need for future collaboration in the field of agriculture and research between China & Pakistan to suffice the emerging challenges of food security.
The forum was attended by key stakeholders in the fields of olive, honey, tea, tobacco, livestock & dairy, fisheries, potato processing from both sides.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E Mr. Nong Rong ,Chairman CPEC Authority, Asim Saleem Bajwa, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Industries & Commerce, Abdul Karim Khan, Secretary Agriculture Department, Mohammad Israr and, CEO KP-BOIT Hassan Daud Butt also delivered their speeches in the online forum. #
