Daily Times
May 24, 2021
Islamabad: After harvesting a historic high wheat crop, the strategic grains reserves of the country further rose and crossed 5.75 million tons mark, besides the procurement drive for the current season also entered into its final stage across the crop producing areas in the country.
The increase in strategic reserves was mainly attributed with bumper wheat production, which was estimated to cross 27.01 million tons mark, against the set target of 27 million tons for crop season 2020-21, said Food Security Commissioner from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Dr.Imtiaz Ali Gopang.
He said that carry forward stock of wheat was registered at 500,000 metric tons. Besides the procurement of over 5.250 million tons during the current grain procurement campaign across the crop producing areas in the country.
National
May 19, 2021
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin held a meeting with SAPM on Food Security Jamshed Iqbal Cheema on Farm Gate Pricing at the Finance Division on Tuesday.
SAPM on Revenue Dr Waqar Masood, the secretary, Finance Division, and the additional secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, also attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the existing farm gate price mechanism and the problems faced by the farmers in transporting the perishable commodities, particularly vegetables and fruits, to the nearest market or first point of sale.
The role of middleman was discussed during the meeting, who makes money at the expense of farmers particularly with small and marginal landholdings.
Tarin stresses the need to empower farmers by offering interest-free loans. AFP
ISLAMABAD: Finance and Revenue Minister Shaukat Tarin on Tuesday highlighted the importance of curtailing dominance of middlemen effectively, which he said would enable the growers to get 35 to 40pc higher returns of their agricultural produce.
Mr Tarin was speaking at a meeting with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Food Security Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, according to a press statement issued by the Finance Ministry.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue Dr Waqar Masood, Secretary Finance Division and Additional Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research also participated in the meeting.
Daily Times
May 19, 2021
ISLAMABAD: As many as 18 projects worth around Rs83 billion have been identified in agriculture sector under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project, with an aim to exploit its true potential and modernize it for the sustainable economic growth.
“Agriculture development is the main component of the second-phase of CPEC and both China and Pakistan are determined to exploit this sector for mutual benefit,” said Senior Joint Secretary and Spokesman of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Javed Hammayun.
About twelve short, medium and long-term projects identified by the China-Pakistan Joint Working Groups (JWG) are related to Livestock Wing, Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) and Livestock and Dairy Development Department, six projects are related to research and development to be executed b Pakistan Agricultural Research Council while one project has been identified for the establishm