US Ambassador Richard Olson on Wednesday reaffirmed the United States (US) government’s long-term support to farming communities in Pakistan.
“Since the 1950s, the US has been working to support agriculture in Pakistan, introducing the Kinnu and helping to double Pakistan’s wheat production. Today, we continue our support because improving crop yields, protecting food sources from disease, and boosting milk production will increase the farmers’ incomes, improve nutrition, and ultimately strengthen Pakistan’s prosperity,” he said.
Addressing a gathering of government officials, researchers, and farmers during his visit to the National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), Olson said, “The US is committed to helping Pakistan’s small farmers through projects that enhance agricultural productivity.”
The Ambassador lauded the Wheat Productivity Enhancement Project (WPEP)’s progress, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program managed in collaboration with national and provincial research partners which has successfully introduced the UG 99-resistant wheat variety.
This wheat variety helps protect against UG 99, a virulent wheat disease in the region that poses a threat to Pakistan’s farming community.
“Wheat constitutes approximately 60 percent of the daily caloric intake of the average Pakistani, so our joint efforts to combat this disease are critical,” the ambassador said. “The Wheat Productivity Enhancement Project team and Pakistani scientists at national and provincial research stations have made great progress in the fight against wheat rust, and I encourage them to continue our work together.”
Apart from the Wheat Productivity Enhancement Project, the US has also provided new harvesting machines and funded improvements to research stations across Pakistan to develop more disease-resistant wheat varieties. The country also provides specialized training opportunities to Pakistani wheat scientists.
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Country Liaison Officer Dr. Muhammad Imtiaz noted that without disease-resistant varieties of wheat, like the one being harvested at NARC, experts estimate that Pakistan’s annual wheat harvest could be reduced by as much as 50 percent if and when UG 99 arrives.
“Agriculture contributes 21 percent to the Pakistan’s GDP and employs 45 percent of the labor force, making it among the most significant economic engines of Pakistan,” Dr. Imtiaz said. “Pakistani farmers grew about 24 million tons of wheat on eight million hectares last year, accounting for about 2.4 percent of the GDP,” he added.
“The US and Pakistan have similar agricultural systems, and sowe have been effective agricultural partners for more than 50 years, working together to improve agricultural yields and to combat disease,” said Ambassador Olson.
“Since the 1950s, American and Pakistani scientists have collaborated to increase wheat production. At that time, Dr. Manzoor Bajwa and Dr. Norman Borlaug collaborated to develop ‘Mexi-Pak,’ the wheat variety behind the Green Revolution in Pakistan and helped to double Pakistan’s wheat production between 1965 and 1970.”
Ministry of National Food Security and Research Secretary Mr. Taimur Azmat Osman and Pakistan Agriculture Research Centre (PARC) Chairman Dr. Iftikar Ahmed were also present.