Pakistan: Tomato farmers trained to reduce import dependence
“We have huge potential to enhance tomato production and reduce dependence on imports which cost billions of rupees to national exchequer,” Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan said while addressing the concluding session of the training. He said that the training course will go long way in promoting tomato cultivation and would not only help make the country self-sufficient in the crop production but would also enable us to export the commodity and earn foreign exchange,according to statement issued by PARC here on Wednesday.
“However, coordinated efforts are required to expand such training courses at larger scale to take full advantage of the potential land resources,” he added.
The federal minister lamented that Pakistan was importing tomatoes worth billions of rupees from the neighboring country despite the fact that we have potential and resources available, urging the scientists to focus on training of farmers to promote tomato cultivation.
On the occasion, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Seerat Asghar said that little attention has been given towards human resource development and advocated for continuing such course for better results.
He expressed the hope that the training would lead to development of hybrid seeds and better tomato cultivation, which would not only enhance the income of farmers but would help economic development.
Source: nation.com.pk
