Pakistan kinnows on tree

Kinnows are one of Pakistan's main horticultural exports

Pakistan’s fresh produce sector should benefit from a US-funded initiative to increase its productivity and competiveness abroad.

The project will be jointly funded by the United States Agency for international Development (USAID) and the Agribusiness Support Fund.

“This project is part of the US government’s broader commitment to help strengthen Pakistan’s economy,” said USAID director Dr Andrew Sisson. “The project will have a positive transformative effect on Pakistan’s agriculture sector and will assist in alleviating poverty through economic development.”

While agriculture is the largest sector in the nations economy it makes up just a small portion of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

According to the report by the Express Tribune, both the horticulture and livestock sectors in Pakistan suffer from inefficient production and marketing systems and poor supply chains. The project will focus on addressing these shortcomings.