A tripartite meeting of top officials of US, Pakistan, and Afghanistan held here Thursday and they agreed on a working plan to alleviate poverty through rapid agriculture growth, as a step forward addressing the root-cause of terrorism and extremism.
Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal who led Pakistan's delegation at the meeting told newsmen that the US gave a very positive response to the urgent need of developing Pakistan-Afghanistan agriculture trade corridors, promoting food security through research and application, and proper water management.
It was decided that three working groups comprising experts from the participating countries will be set up within next eight days for suggesting viable working plan to develop agriculture on a fast track basis to meet the food requirements of the people.US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack assured the Pakistani side that his country will assist in providing quality seeds, strengthening agriculture marketing system, giving boost to production technology and improving food storage capacity.
According to the sources, the three sides held detailed talks on agriculture, trade corridors, water management and watershed rehabilitation. Secretary Wilsack while extending US financial and technical co-operation to Pakistan and Afghanistan in the development of food resources said that the agriculture could be key role in eliminating poverty in the region.
While pointing out link between poverty and terrorism, Nazar Muhammad Gondal called for focusing on agriculture to improve the lives of the people. He said agriculture could provide best defence against Taliban finding recruits. Pakistan's water situation and the negative consequences of delayed water availability were explained in great detail to the participants.
It was highlighted that on account of this delay, crops were missing their optimum growing period with serious consequences on crop yield and productivity. It was underlined that Pakistan could not afford any more infringement of its water rights. The need for high efficiency irrigation system conveyed to the US side, the minister added.
The proposals discussed during the meeting were related to agriculture education, scholarships in the United States, storage facilities, farm markets, high technology inputs in all sectors of agriculture, food processing and reduction in post-harvest losses. Pakistan's delegation included Kamal Mujidulla, Special Assistant to the PM on Water Resources, Dr Zafar Altaf, Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council and Malik Manzoor Ahmad, Director General, National Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services.