Minister calls for improving agricultural productivity through farm mechanisation.

Islamabad -- Federal Industries and Production minister syed murtaza mahmud has stressed to improve agricultural productivity through farm mechanisation and promote agricultural credit for rural economies especially to purchase modern technologies. He expressed these views while addressing a five day international training course on productivity gain sharing in agribusiness Enterprises here on monday. He was of the view that converting raw produce into value added products like fruit pulping and fruit dehydration can promote agribusiness. Regional skills development programmes for rural youth can address the need of the productive workforce. He stressed on the use of productive irrigation methods like drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, use of Intermediate inputs like fertilizers, seeds and pesticides for better produce of crops. He suggested promoting low cost enterprise development programmes like honey bee keeping and floriculture etc in order to create employment opportunities for the rural youths. The minister appreciated the aPO's role in the development of asia-Pacific region and said it is time to revitalise our commitment and strive to achieve aPO's vision of 'Inclusive, innovation-led productivity growth in the asia-Pacific'. He welcomed the international delegates and conveyed his gratitude to aPO and NPO for addressing this important topic. He said this training course will provide knowledge on the application of gain sharing tools and share best practices to make agribusiness enterprises more productive and profitable.

Gain sharing has the potential to contribute to agricultural productivity as farmers are empowered, actors in supply chains are motivated to create increased feeling of ownership, and companies receive greater profits due to higher productivity and enhanced efficiency throughout supply chains. successful gain sharing plans result in quality and productivity improvements of employees. He deliberated that representing the ministry of Industries and Production, we own and owe a mission to 'To achieve Efficient, sustainable and Inclusive Industrial development'. To play the role of facilitator in industrial development and entrepreneurship through policy intervention, setting up Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones for investors, skill development of human resource for industrial sector and socio-economic development of country with particular focus on smE development...