Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro has said that increasing the rice production in the country is a big challenge and all the stakeholders have to join hands to solve this issue. He was speaking at a reception to welcome newly elected office-bearers of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap), organised by the South Zone Group here on Saturday.
Diplomats of various countries, including consul generals of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and others countries attended the event.
Soomro said that the rice production can be increased by adopting modern techniques of harvesting, using quality seeds, and with better water management system. He said that modern harvesting techniques can increase the rice yield and on the other modern milling and crushing system can reduce broken average.
He was of the view that Pak rice is the best quality in the world and can compete with other countries. "We can increase our rice exports by exploring new markets and Pak rice can fetch better price in world market", he added.
The Senate chairman said that the government is committed to providing all necessary facilities to the growers, exporters and other stakeholders so that the country's export will increase and the country will earn more foreign exchange.
Speaking on the occasion, Reap Chairman Haji Muhammad Azhar claimed that the country's rice export will increase to $8 billion in the next fiscal year. He said that the country's rice exports were only $400 million some 10 years back and now it has crossed the $1 billion mark to achieve the target of $1.5 billion this year. "Reap played an important role in increasing country's rice exports, as delegations were sent to different countries for exploring new markets for Pak rice", he added. "We have to make a mechanism to increase rice production, which will ultimately increase the export of this commodity", he said.
Haji Abdul Rahim Janoo, chairman, South Zone Group and former chairman Reap, in his speech, said that the rice price has increased by over 150 percent during the last eight months due to its high demand in international market as a huge shortfall in rice production was witnessed in various rice producing countries.
The price of Irri-6 has gone up to Rs 46 per kg from Rs 19 per kg some eight months back. "We have enough stock of rice in the country. However, hoarders are responsible for creating the current situation", said Janoo, adding that a crackdown on hoarders will ease the rice prices in the local market.
He said that the South Zone Group has introduced new idea to award appreciation trophies to the Reap office-bearers, who did their job with commitment and played their role tremendously.
Reap Vice Chairman Abdul Baseer pointed out that the Association has planned to introduce 10 new varieties of rice in the country and the field trial will be done soon. He said that there is huge potential in rice trade in the country and invited the foreign investors to invest in this sector in Pakistan.
Javed Tar Muhammad, general secretary, South Zone Group, briefed about the achievements of the Association, saying the rice export of over $1 billion with 30 percent increase in value addition was possible only by only tireless efforts of Reap and its leadership.
A.K. Memon and other also spoke on this occasion, while a large number of rice growers, traders, exporters and other stakeholders from all four provinces attended the programme.
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