Pakistan’s government is to establish a taskforce on horticulture to boost the country’s international export share from the current value of $130 million (£64m) to $1 billion by 2012.
The taskforce will provide a common platform for all stakeholders to discuss and develop a common strategy for the horticulture sector in the country.
The taskforce will comprise five sub-committees to identify long- and short-term implementation plans to leverage and improve upon the existing export base.
The sub-committees include horticulture finance, horticulture infrastructure and markets, regulation and health certification, processing and canning and production management.
In consultation with the steering committee under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the subcommittees will formulate their recommendations within two weeks to remove hurdles and devise a strategy for improving export and domestic performance of Pakistan’s horticulture industry.
Dr Salman Shah outlined the need for private sector equity and investment in horticulture to make the country’s export sector more competitive, as well as conformity to international quality standards, supply chains and value addition.
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