ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (NNN-APP) – In its efforts to enhance agricultural productivity, the Pakistani government has been focused on using modern technology, to meet domestic demands and enhance exports, Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Syed Murtaza Mahmud, said.
“There is a need to improve agricultural productivity through farm mechanisation and promote agricultural credit for rural economies, especially to purchase modern technologies,” the minister said, while addressing a seminar on agribusiness here.
The use of productive irrigation methods, like drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, optimum use of intermediate inputs like, fertilisers, seeds and pesticides for better produce of crops are required, he said, adding, converting raw produce into value-added products can promote agribusiness.
Murtaza said, low-cost enterprise development programmes, like honey bee keeping and floriculture are being promoted, in order to create employment opportunities for rural youths.
The government has also been organising training programmes, to provide knowledge on the application of gain-sharing tools and share best practices, to make agribusiness enterprises more productive and profitable, the minister said.
He further noted that, the challenge at the moment is to better integrate small-scale farmers into markets, so that they can make the agricultural sector stronger.– NNN-APP
