Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, April 27 (INP-WealthPK): Multisectoral bilateral coordination between Pakistan and the Netherlands is growing apace. The prime focus is on sustainable livelihood for farmers and women empowerment. The Netherlands is one of the leading exporters of agricultural products and is well-equipped with the latest technology”, said Sundus Munawar, Policy Officer from the Economic Affairs Department of Dutch embassy in Pakistan, while talking to WealthPK. “Dutch training programs are launched with the coordination of a few government institutes and international organizations working in Pakistan. Mostly, attention is paid to the public-private partnership. Gender equality is the core motif of Dutch sustainability plan especially related to potato farming, poultry, livestock raring, trade and development etc,” Sundus said. Talking about the Dutch work plan concerning potato farming, Development Communication Executive Dr. Umair Safdar from Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), said, “Dutch project of potato farming is a technology transfer model. Concerning it, the Wageningen University of Research and Technology (WUR) from the Netherlands is coordinating with the CABI. As a first step, four persons (3 male and one female) were directly trained by the CABI as master trainers. They trained 24 more persons as master trainers’ replica from the potato centred areas of Pakpattan, including Kasur, Sahiwal, and Okara. The purpose is sustainable and better living of farmers to make them a part of economic stream. Before every potato crop season, they provide hands-on practical training and refresher courses to the farmers. In these training sessions, participation of at least 20% female participants is made mandatory because mostly females are involved in harvesting, sorting, grading, packaging and marketing. Secondly, Dutch way of potato cultivation is demonstrated in the conventional plots. At the third stage, printed extension material is provided. It mostly consists of easy pictorial order rather than technical text. Local stakeholders, including Potato Research Institute in Sahiwal, Potato Growth Society, Agricultural university of Faisalabad, and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) are also invited in onboard demonstration sessions”. Sharing his views with WealthPK, Principal Scientist at Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal Dr. Syed Ejaz ul Hassan Shah said, “Dutch companies mostly provide finished product (potato seed). If they prepare potato seeds in Pakistan according to its climatic conditions, it will help cut down the cost. More and more farmers will benefit from the qualitative seed due to its low cost. A 25kg bag of qualitative Dutch seed is available at around 14,000PKR in the local market, which is expensive. If the seed is prepared locally, the market profitability share of Dutch companies will increase, which is only 2% at present. Cheaper rates of seed will ensure a farmer’s 100% access to the product.’’ Moreover, he said the Netherlands should also share expertise concerning potatoes. Same in the way, the transfer of technology will also help Pakistan improve its potato segment in agriculture, provide sustainable livelihood and alleviate poverty. Dr Syed Ejaz also shared that he had prepared a feasibility study on potential potato farming in Pakistan and discussed it with Dutch expert Mr. Romkay. It is expected that very soon a new aspect related to potato farming will be included in the process, he added. Expressing his views about the potato seed and cultivation, Associate Professor at Faisalabad Agricultural University Dr Khurram Zia said, “The Netherlands is world-famous regarding the potato seed preparation. It is good to benefit from their experience. The Dutch embassy must plan training sessions in universities to share the innovative approaches. Same in the way, farmers must be trained to alternate the yearly yield with fresh seed because the use of seedlings from the same crop decreases the yield ratio.” “It is very important for potato farmers to be well informed about few core aspects i.e., cultivation, seed preparation, seed quality, spacing, micronutrients. Dutch technology of potato seed preparation/tissue culture for improvised farming will help,” Dr Khurram Zia said. Dr. Shahid Mahmood, Chairman of the poultry department from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Ravi campus Pattoki, said, “With the coordination of the Netherlands initially, a software has been provided to the institute. It helps keep the entire data from flock to farm management. To use this software, instructors and students are equally provided with the training sessions. Use of sophisticated equipment and transfer of technology concerning poultry business are the coming segments. For industrial uplift of poultry sector, Dutch coordination is acting like a milestone. He also shared that a Pakistani company Biovet Pvt Ltd was coordinating with them concerning Dutch technologies and was arranging expos.” Sharing her views with INP-WealthPK, Rabia Touheed, Manager of operations & coordination at Biovet, said, “Biovet is trading in industrial plants, poultry medicines, primary processing equipment, etc. based on Dutch technology. She shared that small farm holders were also provided with necessary trainings concerning the use of innovative ways for a sustainable livelihood.” The Netherlands has started a combined dairy project (Friesland Campina Engro Pakistan Limited) in Sahiwal with the help of Engro foods. Talking to WealthPK, farm manager of FCEPL Zahid Ahmad Qazi said, “FCEPL has its own commercial dairy farms. But to fulfil the need of quality milk, the company also buys milk from the local farmers. They are trained about the quality, hygiene and other precautionary measures to produce quality milk. The company’s milk collection units are always active to serve the purpose.” “Female farmers are especially promoted to empower them on socio-economic basis. Every farmer is paid on a weekly basis through the bank. In this way, FCEPL is a sustainable Dutch project to provide sustainable livelihood and to alleviate poverty. The farmers, especially women, are happy that they earn their livelihood in a respectable way without leaving their native places. The company is producing multiple quality dairy products like Omoré dairy ice cream, Olper’s milk, Tarang, Dairy Umang, Olper’s Tarka Desi Ghee, etc. The huge management and marketing network for these products provide a large scope of job opportunities throughout Pakistan,” Zahid Ahmad Qazi said. General Manager of Corporate Communication of FCEPL Sania Sattar said, “Economic impact and sustainability is the core motif of Friesland Campina Engro Pakistan Limited. All the community members are important to us but we especially focus on women empowerment to make them a regular part of the economic stream. We have success stories of many women farmers who are benefiting from our training sessions for better output and earning as a part of our team. We also offer scholarships to farmers for better education”. Dutch envoy Wouter Plomp, said in his recent address to the trade and business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), “The Netherlands can help Pakistan to prepare potato seed along with the dairy products. The Netherlands prefers bilateral projects in Pakistan to benefit from available land sources and cheap labour. So, a lot of Dutch companies have started their projects in Pakistan and a lot more are interested to step in with the latest technology”.