Emergency steps needed to raise agricultural exports, says Najam Mazari

ISLAMABAD: Najam Mazari, head of an organisation that conducts research on organic food and products, has called for emergency-style measures to develop agriculture, promote agricultural exports and increase the share of Pakistani products in global markets.

In a statement, he said that to achieve the economic growth targets of Udaan Pakistan, agriculture must be put on modern lines. He said special attention must be paid to raising yield per acre and to exports of organic farming and products.

Need for clusters and value chains

Najam Mazari said that to reach the target of $100 billion in exports, cluster-based planning in all sectors, the creation of value chains and strong links with global supply chains were needed under Udaan Pakistan.

According to him, Pakistan needs export clusters that connect producers with suppliers, skilled workers, universities, testing laboratories, financial resources, logistics systems and international buyers.

He said there was vast potential for agricultural development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. However, the sector had not received the attention the national economy required.

He said that by investing in the agricultural sector, using modern technology and improving the quality of produce, domestic needs could be met and the competitiveness of Pakistani products in global markets could also be increased.

Role of organic farming

Najam Mazari said organic farming should be promoted as a complement to conventional farming, not as an alternative to it, so that new opportunities arise for the production and export of safe food.

To increase exports of organic products, it was necessary to promote certification in line with international standards, reliable traceability of products and modern testing facilities.

He said farmers and exporters should be given training in modern methods of organic production, maintaining quality and international requirements. He added that effective measures should be taken to help with certification costs.