Pakistan urges agricultural assistance from USAID

Pakistan has urged the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist and invest in areas that could produce tangible results for the poor people of Pakistan.

Pakistan's Minister for Food & Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal stressed that agriculture is of paramount importance for Pakistan as the majority of the people have ties to the sector.

He said that cooperation in water conservation, marketing of agriculture products, agricultural research and building grain storage capacities are the areas where USAID help can benefit many Pakistani people and could truly win their hearts and minds.

Gondal explained that the agriculture sector of Pakistan is facing an acute water shortage and introducing modern irrigation systems like drip irrigation and sprinklers are the only solution to the problem.

He also added that farmers do not get fair dividends for their crops due to the poor marketing and storage capacities of the country.