PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for certification and testing to bring the agricultural commodities upto the global standards, which is highly crucial to improve yield and export to international markets.
It called for provision of advanced technology to the farming community, standardized seeds, proper testing/examination and other incentives to improve yield and boost the Horticulture sector and economy.
These remarks were made by SCCI senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem while speaking during an awareness session on Strengthening Pakistan’s Horticulture Sector: Support for Global GAP, HACCP and ISO 22000 Certifications, jointly organized by chamber in collaboration with Pakistan Horticulture Development Company here at the SCCI house on Thursday.
The session was attended by former SCCI presidents Fuad Ishaq, Fazal Moqeem Khan, member of the chamber’s executive committee Aftab Iqbal, Saifullah Khan, farmers’ community, members, senior officials, SCCI Secretary General Muqtasid Ahsan, Fazal e Wahid, Saddar Gul, Ishtiaq Muhammad, officials from agriculture and other relevant departments. Senior officials from PHDEC also joined the session through a video link and addressed the participants and gave valuable inputs to improve yield and boost the horticulture sector.
Vast opportunities available to boost Agriculture and Horticulture Sector in KP, which is highly rich in climate, scenic valleys, especially various varieties of fruits and vegetables, and their test and standards compete at global level, senior vice president said.
Muhammad Nadeem counted treasure of fruits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, like peach of Swat, persimmon of Malakand, pomegranate of Chitral, and Pear and Plums of Peshawar, Guava and Haldi of Bannu, and Dates of DI Khan are not only agriculture item but also identity of regional culture, economy and agriculture.
In Peshawar, potato and Brinjal have stood at a remarkable position and in flowers Gulab and others remain customary, the senior office bearer added, calling for concrete steps for fully tapping these potentials to improve the harvesting and boost the horticulture sector in KP.
Muhammad Nadeem stressed the certification of fruits and vegetables, other products are crucial to meet the global standards, which would make the Pakistan products in the international market competitive and enhance its export around the world.
SCCI SVP said the horticulture and agriculture sector immensely contribute to strengthen local industries, the economy and promote value addition and create job avenues.
He added these projects reflect SCCI’s vision as it makes the local industries and business empower and improve the standards of various products.
SCCI senior office bearers believed Pakistan’s horticulture sector would come up with global standards through trilateral coordination and cooperation between industries, academia and government.
He said the chamber is fully committed to certification, adherence with standards and global competitiveness.
We can jointly make ambassador of standards and advancement of KP’ agriculture products in international markets.
Muhammad Nadeem thanked the PHDEC for arranging such an informative session and hoped it would benefit the business community attached with the Horticulture and Agriculture sector. He called for conducting further such awareness sessions for the business community.
