Pakistan, Iran Could Learn a Lot From Their Expertise in Agriculture: Minister
In a panel interview with IRNA, the minister, however, said that both the brotherly countries were not exploiting their potential in the agricultural field to a great extent and to their mutual advantage.
Junejo, in response to a question about Afghanistan, said that Islamabad and Tehran could jointly contribute in a big way toward rebuilding the devastated agricultural sector in the war-ravaged country.
"Pakistan, for its part, has been helping Afghanistan in afforestation, has already supplied livestock and intends to help the country reconstruct its irrigation systems," the minister explained.
The minister said that during his visit to Iran a few months back, he had offered Pakistani wheat export and was now again inviting Iranian experts to visit Pakistan and check for themselves the quality of the commodity.
"Pakistan is exporting wheat to Middle Eastern countries and even to Far Eastern countries," he said, and added that there was nothing wrong with the crop. "Had it been so, there would have been complaints from any of these importers," he claimed.
Pakistan, he added, is best placed to export wheat to Iran because of its geographical proximity with Iran and availability of road and rail links in addition to air services.
Junejo maintained Iran was importing basmati rice in a reasonable quantity from Pakistan.
The minister further said that Pakistan, on the question of expanded cooperation, could learn from Iran how to use the minimum quantity of water for irrigation purposes for maximum use.
"When I was in Iran, I witnessed how the brotherly country has developed methods to exploit water resources for maximum use including the drip irrigation system which Pakistan is now experimenting," he remarked.
Another area of cooperation, the minister pointed out, could be sugar beet cultivation as Pakistan has just started growing sugar beets for sugar production in view of its fast depleting water resources.
Junejo said Pakistan has been depending on sugarcane for sugar production. However, as the sugarcane crop consumes more water it is now exploring alternative crops.
The minister noted that other areas of cooperation and sharing of agriculture know-how could be in the areas of livestock production, olive cultivation, and fruit and vegetable production.
But he minced no words in saying that the two countries were not at a desired level of mutual cooperation as has been desired.
However, he expressed hope that with recent developments in the region, mutual cooperation would soon get a boost.
thr 017 pakistan-iran-cooperation /wrd/ pakistan, iran could learn a lot from their expertise in agriculture: minister islamabad, july 21, irna -- pakistan's food, agriculture and livestock minister khair muhammad junejo on sunday said pakistan and iran have lot to learn from their expertise in the agricultural field.
in a panel interview with irna, the minister, however, said that both the brotherly countries were not exploiting their potential in the agriculture field to a great extent and to their mutual advantage.
junejo, in response to a question about afghanistan, said that islamabad and tehran could jointly contribute in a big way towards rebuilding the devastated agriculture sector in the war-ravaged country.
"pakistan, for its part, has been helping afghanistan in afforestation, has already supplied livestock and intends to help the country reconstruct its irrigation systems," the minister explained.
the minister said that during his visit to iran a few months back, he had offered pakistani wheat export and was now again inviting iranian experts to visit pakistan and check for themselves the quality of the commodity.
"pakistan is exporting wheat to middle eastern countries and even to far eastern countries," he said, and added that there was nothing wrong with the crop. "had it been so, there would have been complaints from any of these importers," he claimed.
pakistan, he added, is best placed to export wheat to iran because of its geographical proximity with iran and availability of road and rail links in addition to air services.
junejo maintained iran was importing basmati rice in a reasonable quantity from pakistan.
the minister further said that pakistan, on the question of expanded cooperation, could learn from iran how to use the minimum quantity of water for irrigation purposes for maximum use.
"when i was in iran, i witnessed how the brotherly country has developed methods to exploit water resources for maximum use including the drip irrigation system which pakistan is now experimenting," he remarked.
another area of cooperation, the minister pointed out, could be sugar beet cultivation as pakistan has just started growing sugar beets for sugar production in view of its fast depleting water resources.
junejo said pakistan has been depending on sugarcane for sugar production. however, as the cane crop consumes more water it is now exploring alternative crops.
the minister noted that other areas of cooperation and sharing of agriculture knowhow could be in the areas of livestock production, olive cultivation, and fruit and vegetable production.
but he minced no words in saying that the two countries were not at a desired level of mutual cooperation as has been desired.
however, he expressed the hope that with recent developments in the region, mutual cooperation would soon get a boost.