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Australia assures help in boosting grapes crop
Australia
Friday 30 November 2007
Australia has shown interest in helping Pakistan to increase production of grapes in Balochistan. Australian High Commissioner Zorica McCarthy met the caretaker Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Prince Muhammad Isa Jan Baloch on Monday and discussed with him cooperation in maximising production of grapes crop in the province.
The minister told the Australian high commissioner that the existing collaboration between the two countries should be further strengthened for upgrading livestock, citrus fruits and mangoes in Pakistan.
A multi-million dollar Australia Pakistan agriculture sector linkages programme is already focused on providing Australian knowledge and expertise to key sectors of agribusiness in Pakistan to increase profitability and enhance export potential.
The programme is aimed to contribute to poverty alleviation among farmers with small landholdings through collaborative research and development and to enhance the capacity of research and development and extension system to deliver practical research formulae to the agribusiness and farmers.
The programme is focused on the horticulture (mango and citrus) and livestock (dairy) enterprises, while at the same time addressing issues of water management and institutional and technical capacity building.
The food ministry officials informed the Australian high commissioner that Balochistan was famous for production of quality fruits like almond, apple, apricot, cherry, grapes, peach, plum, and pomegranate due to climatic suitability.
After apple grape is the second major fruit in the province. These fruits contribute about 15.22 per cent and 10.17 per cent both in area and production, respectively, in the province.
A number of varieties of grapes are grown in highland areas of the province. The main grape producing areas are Quetta, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Mastung, Kalat, Loralai and Zhob districts.
The minister told the Australian high commissioner that the existing collaboration between the two countries should be further strengthened for upgrading livestock, citrus fruits and mangoes in Pakistan.
A multi-million dollar Australia Pakistan agriculture sector linkages programme is already focused on providing Australian knowledge and expertise to key sectors of agribusiness in Pakistan to increase profitability and enhance export potential.
The programme is aimed to contribute to poverty alleviation among farmers with small landholdings through collaborative research and development and to enhance the capacity of research and development and extension system to deliver practical research formulae to the agribusiness and farmers.
The programme is focused on the horticulture (mango and citrus) and livestock (dairy) enterprises, while at the same time addressing issues of water management and institutional and technical capacity building.
The food ministry officials informed the Australian high commissioner that Balochistan was famous for production of quality fruits like almond, apple, apricot, cherry, grapes, peach, plum, and pomegranate due to climatic suitability.
After apple grape is the second major fruit in the province. These fruits contribute about 15.22 per cent and 10.17 per cent both in area and production, respectively, in the province.
A number of varieties of grapes are grown in highland areas of the province. The main grape producing areas are Quetta, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Mastung, Kalat, Loralai and Zhob districts.
