Public-private partnership stressed to boost food production

Author: Agencies

President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik on Monday stressed the need for renewed collaboration and public-private partnership to accelerate food production to offset the ever-increasing impending threat of food insecurity in the world.

Speaking as a chief guest at the annual rice dealers conference held under the aegis of Guard Agriculture Research and Services, he said that global food security is at a tipping point and a large portion of the global population is hungry today than in 2015. He said that the role of public-private partnership is improving global food security.

He said that the prime objective of public-private partnership is to use market mechanisms to improve Agri-food systems, thereby reducing food insecurity and advancing rural development. He said that rice is the second most important crop of Pakistan which promises economic prosperity for growers and helps earn billions of rupees through its export.

Iftikhar Ali Malik said that Pakistan is the 10th largest producer and the 4th largest exporter of rice. He said that Pakistan’s export makes up more than 8pc of the world’s total rice trade. He lauded the four decades-long efforts of guard Agri research and services division for introducing 11 government-approved new varieties of hybrid rice for commercial cultivation.

Former President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahzad Ali Malik who is also Managing Director Guard Rice speaking on the occasion said, “we are the pioneer in developing extra-long grain varieties in Pakistan and established 5 research stations all over the country in rice-growing areas one each at Golarchi, Larkana, Muridkey, Pakpattan and Lahore for conducting latest research in evolving new varieties braving heat resistance, drought and salinity tolerance.”

“We are the first in Pakistan for introducing hybrid wheat and conducting extensive trails every year,” he added. Shahzad Ali Malik said, “we are earning foreign exchange for Pakistan for exporting guard rice which he added are in great demand globally.”