Islamabad: In an effort to identify a roadmap for the national e-agriculture strategy in Pakistan, two day consultation workshop was organized in Islamabad.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) brought together representatives from the ministries of National Food Security and Research, Climate change, provincial departments, National Disaster Management Authority, telecommunication companies and private sector stakeholders engaged in agricultural service development and delivery in Pakistan for the workshop.
Dr Hashim Popalzai, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research inaugurated the two day workshop.
Welcoming participants Ms Minà Dowlatchahi FAO Representative in Pakistan said: “This workshop will be helpful in identifying effective and efficient ways for reaching more farmers, transferring knowledge, adaptation to climate change and supporting modernization of Pakistan’s agri sector by using the available information and communication technologies.
These consultations will lead to the preparation of a framework for providing support in the formulation of national e-agriculture policy for Pakistan that will ensure improvement in livelihoods, food security and value-chain development in the country.”
During the two day workshop participants exchanged knowledge and experience gained from best practices in the sustainable use of information and communication technologies in agriculture. They also identified available services that can help bridge the challenges faced by farmers in growing crops, rearing livestock and small-scale fish farmers including e-extension advisories and precision farming techniques. They also discussed the way forward for improved coordination between various stakeholders to implement sustainable e-agriculture solutions in Pakistan.
Mr Gerard Sylvester from FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and Mr Ismail Shah Area Representative for Southeast Asia & Timor-Leste, International Telecommunication Union attended the workshop.
