Keeping in view the importance of agriculture sector in the country, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Pakistan on Tuesday launched Agricultural Technology Transfer Activity, which would help increase agri productivity through introduction of modern technologies. The project seeks to improve agricultural productivity in Pakistan by scaling private sector solutions, which would result in an increased income and employment of target population. The four years’ project would cost $8.2 million and it would contribute towards an improved economic status of focus communities by increasing their income. It would help increase small farmers access to markets and their overall development. This will strengthen their linkages with small farmers to address their unique needs. The project’s activities aim to increase productivity, build resilience to climate change and reduce postharvest losses. At the end of the project’s implementation period, the expectation is to enhance the capacity of agricultural technology related businesses to commercialise technologies and modernise management practices while adopting sustainable practices and also to increase the overall adoption of agricultural technologies by small farmers. The project was launched through collaboration of USAID and the Ministry of National Foods Security & Research. Partnering with roughly 30 of the largest private agri-technology business, the four-year initiative will introduce advanced technologies to an estimated 122,500 farmers, whose agricultural sales are projected to reach $8.58 million. “This project will help Pakistani farmers realise the full potential of their land and labour,” USAID Mission Director Jerry Bisson said. “Partnership with key private sector players will help connect farmers to each other, new techniques, timely weather data and the supply chain network – all of which enhances productivity, builds resilience to climate change and reduces post-harvest losses. The technologies the programme will introduce to the horticulture industry include integrated pest management, controlled production, improved genetics and post-harvest handling and packaging. The livestock and daily sectors will benefits from nutrition and breed improvement, including artificial insemination and embryo transplants that will offer rapid improvement in livestock genetics. Our partnership with USAID has lasted decades, but with interventions such as these, the pace of development will increase multifold. We hope to support these initiatives over the project lifespan and beyond.” Pakistani agriculture department officials and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council Chairman Dr Yousaf Zafar also attended the event. Published in Daily Times, June 27th 2018.