AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, February 19, 2014 (PPI-OT): Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Mr. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, addressed the 37th session of the General Council of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD). The Minister underscored that the theme of meeting – “Investing in Smallholder Family Farmers” – was highly important for Pakistan since 97% of land holders in Pakistan were smallholder family farmers, says a press release received from Rome here today.
Minister Bosan stressed that eradicating rural poverty was one of the most important objectives of the Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. To effectively address the challenges of rural poverty, the Government had initiated the Zero Hunger and Family Farming Programme. He sought IFAD’s assistance in implementing these important national programmes.
The Minister also thanked IFAD for its contributions to rural development in Pakistan. According to IFAD statistics, IFAD portfolio in Pakistan represents 11% of its regional and 4% of its global portfolio, amounting to financing worth US $ 528 million.
Pakistan is IFAD’s fourth largest borrower after India, China and Bangladesh. Around 2 million people have benefited, directly and indirectly, from its funded projects in the country since 1978. At present IFAD has three on-going projects while some others are at different stages of processing.
The Minister encouraged IFAD to undertake more projects in the country, in response to Pakistan’s needs and priorities and consistent with the requirements of the country’s population living in rural areas.
The Minister, who is on a visit to Rome from 18 to 22 February 2014, will hold separate meetings with the heads of all the three Rome-based agriculture-related organizations viz. International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
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