FAISALABAD: Kitchen gardening, home farming and commercial farming are essential to meet the looming challenge of food security. The use of advanced technologies should be encouraged for maximum agricultural production, said Ms. Rubina Amjad, President of the Faisalabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FWCCI).
She addressed attendees at Agri-Tech Expo 2023 organized by the FWCCI here in the FCCI Auditorium.
She said agriculture accounts for 23 percent of GDP; 38.5 percent of the workforce is directly related to agriculture and 70 percent of the population is dependent on the agricultural sector. She said that China has only 10 percent of the arable land but produces 25 percent of the world grain production.
She said that of Pakistan’s total agricultural area of 79.6 million hectares, only 22.1 million hectares are arable land, although urbanization and colonization are wiping out the arable land. She said there is still huge agricultural land available.
She said the highest food prices were recorded in 2022, according to the UN report, and the State Bank of Pakistan warned of a food crisis due to population growth and global warming. She said agriculture has stagnated at 3.9% for the past three years and Pakistan has imported $9 billion worth of wheat over the past two years, despite being the 10th largest wheat producer in the world.
She said the only way forward is to channel the existing potential of the kitchen garden, internal and commercial farming using advanced technologies such as tunnel farming, drip irrigation and quality seed.
She said that we have offered the prospective food scientists/graduates special desks to deal with the food safety challenge and FWCCI will not charge them for rent for the first three months. She said women have a large share in the rural economy and stressed that urban women must stand shoulder to shoulder in food production through the innovative approach of kitchen gardening, which not only provides the family with fresh vegetables but also generates income through them could earn from selling surplus products. She said that in this regard an exclusive website was being developed where agri-technocrats would be immediately available for any questions and technical advice.
Mian Muhammad Adrees, Main Guest and Group Leader of the National Group, appreciated this unique and innovative approach of the FWCCI President by organizing the Agri-Tech 2023 Expo. He said women account for 74% of the rural economy, and women in urban areas should also dedicate themselves to exploiting agricultural potential. He said vegetables are grown all over the world even in small pots. He said urban women should come forward to overcome rising food inflation. He said Pakistan’s economy could not be developed without serious participation by women.
Imran Khaliq, Senior Executive Agri Services, FFC, Dr. Naveed, Associate Professor, Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Nawaz Khan Maken, Director General, Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, Hassan Rana, CEO Green Pak, Ms. Sapna Obrey, Chair of Agriculture Committee, Ms. Farwa Shoaib, Deputy Variety Development Manager, Green Gold Pvt. Ltd, Faisalabad participated in the panel discussion. Shields were presented to them by President FWCCI.
Ms. Qurat ul Ain, Chair of Special Initiatives, delivered a vote of thanks while a large number of women attended the expo.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
