ISLAMABAD: Interim Minister for National Food Security and Research Dr Kausar Abdulla Malik said that draft regulations of bio-pesticides policy had been finalised and would be submitted before Cabinet for approval to promote use of bio-pesticides in country.

Addressing high-level ‘Dialogue on regulatory harmonisation in Pakistan for MRLs and bio-pesticides’, he said that use of bio-pesticides would help mitigate issues related to aflatoxin and make local agriculture commodities more resilient to capture international market.

Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with USID, USDA and CABI organized event to share outcome of joint collaboration to mitigate adverse impact of aflatoxin in local agriculture products, besides measures taken to mitigate its negative impact on exports of rice, maize, wheat and fruits.

He said that due to presence of micro-toxin elements, exports from country remained under regulatory pressure and expressed hope that promotion of bio-pesticides would help to overcome such challenges besides reducing reliance on costly fertilizers, which consume costly inputs like electricity and gas.

He said that organic agriculture products were high in demand across world and adoption of this technology would help to enhance output of organic agriculture products, besides overcoming threats related to climate change.

Interim Minister appreciated efforts of USAID and other development partners and agencies for uplift of agriculture sector in country. He said that joint efforts of organisations like USID, USDA, PARC and CABI will play key role in developing a model of modern agriculture in country.

Dr Tariq Khan Director Department of Plant Protection informed that process of bio-pesticides regulation was initiated in 2012, adding that bio-pesticides policy had been finalised and soon it would be approved.

Besides, department was also working with Food and Agriculture Organisation, Ministry of Commerce and other organisations to address issues of aflatoxin to address bottlenecks hampering local export consignments.

Program Manager USDA Jessica Mudjitaba-Fernandez assured full support for promotion and development of agriculture sector in Pakistan. She said that US Department of Agriculture was collaborating with Ministry of National Food Security and Research to promote organic agriculture and enhance output of agriculture produces.

Project Director CABI Dr Sabyan Faris said that his organisation had conducted studies in collaboration with USAID and USDA on aflatoxin and bio-pest control under supervision of national and international experts and started public public-private partnership in 2018.

Besides over 45 training sessions were conducted, benefiting around 1,539 farmers, he said adding that efforts were still on to mitigate impact of chemical pesticides and promote and develop use of bio-pesticides to enhance local output.

Chairman PARC Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali lauded efforts of all stakeholders for mitigating negative impact of aflatoxin that would help in promote exports of agriculture commodities.

He said that bio-pesticides and seed policy would address issues and challenges related agriculture sector and enhance output of local crops like wheat, maize and rice.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 25 2024

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