PSF, HCCI discuss R&D collaboration for industrial development

Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI)’s acting president offered the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) full support and all required facilities for Science and Technology Research and Development (R&D) activities during a meeting at HCCI.
He made this offer during a meting held to discuss avenues for organising collaborative R&D activities at the HCCI.
Technology Information Service of Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), a subsidiary of PSF working under the Ministry of Science and Technology, organised this meeting on the directives of PSF Chairman Professor Dr Manzoor H Soomro in which PASTIC, Institute for Research Promotion (IRP) Lahore and SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority) planned to work together for R&D activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Those who attended the meeting included HCCI Acting President and Vegetable & Agriculture Committee Chairman Ashfaq, Farmers Association (Haripur Model Farm Centre) President Haji Gul Ghani, HCCI R&D Section in charge and SMEDA Regional Business Coordinator Kamran, HCCI General Secretary Arif Malik, Peshawar PASTIC Sub-Centre’s Deputy Director Ghazala Yasmeen Malik and Institute of Research Promotion (IRP) Chief Coordinator Mr Rahmatullah.
The HCCI acting president said the revenue of Haripur district could be increased by 300 percent through fruit and vegetable export if the farmers were provided with fruit and vegetable technology.
Mr Ashfaq said the HCCI represented the local community of Haripur Distract, a gateway for Northern Areas fruits and vegetables industries, while Hattar Industrial Estate was a separate body that represents the countrywide industries. He said the main industry in HCCI was fruit (Leechi, Malta and Locat) and vegetables (Karaila, Tomato and Garlic).
He said due to the unavailability of drying technology most fruits and vegetables were being delivered in fresh form. He said the perish-ability of fruits and vegetables was difficult to manage and post harvest losses went up to 50 to 60 percent. He said they needed fruit and vegetable drying technology, awareness of the latest R&D in different preservatives, awareness of new varieties to enhance yields of fruits & vegetables, supply chain management of fruits & vegetables and R&D on growing of olives at a larger scale in Harripur Distract.
It was proposed that the PASTIC or PSF would organise chains of different activities including awareness seminars, workshops and general discussion forums for farmers on the above mentioned needs and requirements.
The HCCI’s acting president also proposed that if a pilot plant of drying technology was developed by PSF, they would provide land for its installation and involve the industry to invest in it and also work for increasing export of fruits and vegetables.