A pioneer in high-tech farming in Pakistan, Mossadaq Chughtai, says increasing exportable agricultural products and value-added food items can greatly help the country in meeting the economic challenges. Amplifying exportable surpluses in agriculture sector can be a great way to reduce the food trade deficit that currently stands more than US $ one billion, Mossadaq Chughtai, owner of a sprawling technology-powered Pandak Farms said.
"With the interface of state-of-the-art technologies, the horticulture crops can be produced to achieve exportable surpluses," he said. Currently, high tunnels at Pandak Farms are used to grow off-season cucumber, bitter gourd, eggplant, capsicum and green chilies in addition to exotic papaya fruit.
The entrepreneur use solar energy and water-saving irrigation techniques, said it is a good time for Pakistan to focus on modernizing its agriculture. "We should be self-sufficient in food items, which we used to import from India. The government should encourage growth and storage of vegetables like tomatoes."
"Secondly, Pakistan's food trade deficit shrank to $1.4 billion in the last fiscal year from $2.43 billion a year ago. So, we have all the reasons to do a better job of maximizing agricultural output." Pakistan's agriculture accounts for about 21 percent of GDP and employs about 43 percent of the labour force, he noted.
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