Horticulture industry development: 'lack of quality, on-farm losses major constraints'

The sub committee on Finance has said the lack of a strategy for quality improvement and huge on-farm losses were major constraints to develop the horticulture industry in Pakistan. It also observed here on Wednesday that similarly export markets are lost because of failures to comply with international food standards.
It identified many other weaknesses, which were affecting the promotion of horticulture in Pakistan. These included consumer awareness of health, nutrition and food quality.
The sub committee urged for standards and regulations to be implemented by task force for horticulture finance and competitiveness and co-ordinated efforts to tackle the issues. It suggested co-ordination between regulators and certification authorities as well as technical agencies to provide physical solutions to the problem.
The sub-committee met for the first time in Islamabad and reached some preliminary findings and recommendations. Planning Commission member Kausar Abdullah chaired the meeting. SC-Q included the newly constituted National Animal and Plant Inspection Service (NAPHIS) of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. This integrated service aims to put in place a coherent SPS management system and to promote safe and sound food for consumers under an effective system that integrates all the individual services provided by Minfal.
The senior officials of the ministry of Health, Committee on Science and Technology, private sector exporters, Agricultural Support Fund, legal specialists dealing with the food industry, National Commission on Biotechnology, National Institute of Food Science and Technology and faculty members from the Agriculture University, Faisalabad also attended the meeting.