DNA
\nISLAMABAD
\nFederal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan met with the Delegation of International Funds for Agriculture Development (IFAD) led by Mr. Donal Brown, Associate Vice President of IFAD and Nigel Brett, country director Asia Pacific region in his office Thursday. IFAD is a financial institution\/ specialized agency of UN for eradicating poverty & hunger in rural areas of developing countries.
\nVice President Donal Brown is responsible for managing and developing the operations that IFAD supports through its loans and grants. He also worked for the Department for International Development (DFID).
\nIFAD has supported 27 programs and projects in Pakistan for total amount of $664.5 million which directly benefitted 2.8 million households. Pakistan is amongst the world\u2019s top producers of wheat, cotton, sugarcane, mango, dates, rice & oranges.
\nThe rural population of Pakistan is 60% of the total population. Rural farmers face many problems including small landholdings, market access, credit access, inputs & support services, policy & institutional constraints.
\nThe country\u2019s rising demand for food due to increasing population. There is high stress on Pakistan\u2019s fresh waters of which 90% is used for agriculture.
\nFederal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that our government aims to bring revolutionary change in agriculture sector through PM\u2019s Agriculture Emergency Program especially in the rural areas.
\nHe further said that the Government of Pakistan appreciates IFAD\u2019s initiatives for Sustainable rural development & wants to maintain this cooperation till achievement of objectives. Mehboob Sultan said that under Prime Minister\u2019s Vision, we have initiated various schemes for achieving agricultural self-sufficiency.
\nThe collaboration of IFAD in this regard will be encouraging. Most of the Pakistan\u2019s population lives in rural areas and have a direct or in-direct connection with agriculture for that we are empowering our small famers and women as well so that they can support & contribute in national development. Women have a dynamic and independent role in our government\u2019s agricultural projects said the Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan.
\nIFAD\u2019s current portfolio consists of 4 projects at a total cost of USD 380.390 million which include: Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation project, Gwadar \u2013 Lasbella livelihood support project, economic transformation initiative in Gilgit Baltistan and National Poverty Graduation Program (NPGP) IFAD started its operations in Pakistan in 1978 focusing on combating rural poverty.
\nIts country program is aligned with government\u2019s development & policy agenda. The ongoing & pipeline projects are facilitating & promoting skills development (training), enterprise, value chain development, access to credit and other financial services.
\nMoreover the challenges posed by climate, nutrition, water scarcity are also taken into account. Country Director Nigel Brett told that IFAD\u2019s new country strategy program (2022-27) will focus on climate smart agriculture and adding private sector to value chain along with active inclusion of women folk. Pakistan contributes to financial resources of IFAD. Ministry of National Food Security & Research has supported the proposal for opening IFAD\u2019s country office in Pakistan.
\nFederal Minister asked the Associate Vice President IFAD that it may review its policy of shifting Pakistan from highly concessional loans to blend loans and Mr. Brown told that the request will be forwarded to governing body for further comments.
\nThe Federal Minister was also invited to attend the IFAD\u2019s next governing body meeting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DNA ISLAMABAD Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan met with the Delegation of International Funds for Agriculture Development (IFAD) led by Mr. Donal Brown, Associate Vice President of IFAD and Nigel Brett, country director Asia Pacific region in his office Thursday. IFAD is a financial institution\/ specialized agency of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-83780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n