October 16, 2020

 

Pakistan wants EU assistance in developing livestock sector

 

Pakistan has asked the EU for assistance in developing its livestock sector through technology.

 

In a recent meeting with EU Ambassador Androulla Kaminara, Minister for Food Security Fakhar Imam said critical support in farming, technology and techniques was needed for the development of the country's agriculture sector, The News reported.

 

Last year Pakistan and EU signed strategic engagement plan for transfer of technology. It was pointed out that there is a need to enhance further trade of agro products between Pakistan and the EU.

 

In a statement, the Ministry of National Food Security & Researchalso noted that there was a "dire" need for collaborationamongthe agriculture sectors and that the EU could provide technical and financial assistance in the livestock sector of Pakistan such as in the control of risk-based foot-and-mouth disease control, virtual-based disease information and surveillance system, and establishing foot-and-mouth-disease-free zones.

 

Imam lamented that while the country has a big livestock sector, "foot-and-mouth disease has handicapped us".

 

He informed Ambassador Kaminara that a facility for developing vaccine for the foot-and-mouth disease was under development in Bahawalpur city in Punjab province.

 

Kaminara, meanwhile,told Imam that the country's fisheries sector should also be developed as it has a lot of potential for fish exports. Pakistan's seafood exports in fiscal year 2017-18increased 27.94% year-on-year to 198,420 tonnes, valued at $451.026 million. between the Minister for Food Security Fakhar Imam and EU Ambassador Androulla Kaminara.

 

"EU is the main buyer of sheep casing from Pakistan. EU can help Pakistan to increase agriculture production and increase export of regulated goods," said the ministry's statement.

 

The meeting was told critical support in farming, technology and techniques would be imperative for the development of the country's agriculture sector.

 

"Therefore, there is dire need of collaboration between the agriculture sectors," said the statement. "The EU may provide technical and financial assistance in the livestock sector of Pakistan like risk-based foot and mouth disease control, virtual-based disease information and surveillance system and establishing foot and mouth disease free zones."

 

Pakistan and EU signed strategic engagement plan last year for transfer of technology. Pakistan exports rice, mango, vegetables, spices and tobacco to the EU states. However, the current level of bilateral trade between Pakistan and EU countries does not fully reflect the potential of agro-products, which may need to be enhanced further.

 

Pakistan imports chickpeas, instant gum, potato seeds and other food stuff from the EU.

 

Imam said the menace of the desert locust has been brought completely under control in the country.

 

"The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations assisted Pakistan a lot in anti-locust operations," he said.

 

Imam said the EU agriculture policy benefits the farmers to an exemplary scale.

 

The minister said Pakistan is focusing on developing phytosanitary system. Fruits and vegetables worth $700 million are exported from Pakistan.

 

The country also has a big livestock sector "but foot and mouth disease has handicapped us".

 

The ambassador was told that a facility is under development in Bahawalpur for developing vaccine for the foot and mouth disease.

 

The minister said cotton is one of the major crops of the country and Pakistan needs a breakthrough in cotton sector. The interest was expressed in developing a niche market for floriculture in Pakistan much like the Netherlands.

 

Kaminara asked the country to develop its fisheries sector as there is a lot of potential for fish exports. The EU is the financier of FAO. Cotton is very much linked with generalised system of preferences plus status that allows tariff incentives to Pakistani exports to the 27-member countries bloc.