STAFF REPORT IBD: Pakistan is self-sufficient in food and government is taking all-out efforts to make it an exporting country.
“Our goal is to turn agriculture into a fully viable economic activity and maintain self-sufficiency in food production,” said Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFSR) Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan while talking to media in Islamabad.
He also emphasised on adoption of modern technologies for efficient input use and also appreciated IFPRI – a leading international organisation in the area of agricultural research – for playing an important role in strengthening the agriculture research base for policy making.
He said the main purpose of the ministry is to turn Pakistan into a hub of food and high-value crops for regional markets, as there is a large demand of Halal products in these markets. It will also require modernising post-harvest storage and marketing systems.
The Federal Minister also said process is underway for revamping of agricultural research organisations and institutions so that benefits of research reach the farmers.