The Appraisal Panel of Agribusiness Support Fund (ASF) has approved grants for projects worth Rs 20.5 million for Agribusiness Sector Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).
The grants were approved in the twenty first meeting of the appraisal panel, which include support to a variety of projects including hiring of foreign consultancy services for establishment of state-of-the-art modern dairy farm, support for participating in an international exhibition, support for setting up of an imported complete bottling line for fruit juice production, field survey and feasibility study for setting up of an outlet for organic fruits.
According to a spokesman of the Fund, grants have also been approved for support for production of jam and squash, vegetables and flowers production, vegetable seed production, pickle production, cultivation of gladiolus, setting-up of cold storage and import of high efficiency irrigation equipment. Collaboration with Biyar Local Support Organisation (BLSO) for provision of extension services for capacity building of farmers of Biyar area on vegetable seeds production, fruit processing and good agricultural practices is also another project approved in this meeting. The Enterprises were also supported in establishment of mini packing houses at farm level and in creation of skilled workers, the spokesman said.
Through these grants some other SMEs will also be supported in attaining international certifications including GlobalGAP and HACCP. Funding was also approved for capacity building of Business Development Service Providers (BDSP) in medicinal plants and herbal medicines, development of herbal pharmaceutical technology, training programme on integrated farming and artificial insemination, special capacity building programmes for farmers of Chitral area providing trainings on potato seed production, apricot drying methods, livestock management, off-season vegetable production, food processing, post harvest handling, good agricultural practices etc and support to association in acquiring training from China on new technologies in reproduction of Buffaloes.
ASF was created under the auspices of the Rs 4.1 billion ADDP (Agribusiness Development & Diversification Project of MINFA) with support from ADB. The aim of ASF is developing the agribusiness sector in Pakistan and thereby supporting economic growth and employment generation. ASF has been tasked with promoting the private sector agribusiness enterprises by providing matching grants for purchase of "Business Development Services" and also providing capacity building support to BDS providers, the spokesman concluded.
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