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LAHORE (January 28 2010): The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with Australian Agriculture and Livestock experts would prepare a comprehensive study to exploit and enhance the potential of Pakistan’s value-added Agriculture sector that includes fruits, vegetables and Cash Crops.

The decision to this regard was made at a meeting between Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry and Australian Agriculture expert Simson Hasker here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday. Dairy sector expert Syed Yawar Ali, PAMCO Chief Mian Shaukat, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry former Vice President Shahzad Ali Malik and Ch Usman Ali of Global Assets Management were also present in the meeting.
 

Giving a briefing on Pakistan’s Agriculture sector, the LCCI President informed the Australian expert that Pakistan had not been able to exploit the true potential of its Agriculture sector because of obsolete agriculture technology. He said that the country had been losing on average one third of its cotton production obtained from conventional seed due to pest attacks. The pest resistant BT Cotton varieties had not yet been introduced in the country. He said BT Hybrid if introduced would double the cotton production in the country.

He said Pakistan produces some of the finest varieties of citrus fruit and mangoes. Unfortunately he added that 40 per cent of the fruit and vegetable production is lost due to poor post harvesting techniques. He said introduction of modern post harvesting technologies like cold chain and shelf life enhancing procedures would double the incomes of our farmers. He said the new technology requires substantial investment and expertise that could come through joint ventures. He said agro-based industries could then be established to add value to our fruits and vegetables.