LAHORE – Promotion of post harvest technology and provision of infrastructure for processing, grading and packaging in compliance of international standard is top priority of Punjab Government, said Secretary Agriculture Punjab Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad while chairing a review meeting regarding “Supply Chain Improvement of Selected Agriculture and Livestock Products” here Monday.
A large number of growers, suppliers, processors and representative of logistic companies participated in the meeting. Project Coordinator Ameer Khatak briefed the participants that an incentive package of Rs 2b has been provided by CM Punjab to growers, suppliers, logistic companies and traders / exporters of agricultural and livestock products as financial assistance for acquiring Global GAP and IFS certifications to produce fully traceable products.
He told that IFS-Food Certification of 200 suppliers, Global GAP certification of 30 on-farm suppliers and 3,000 farm-bases attached with suppliers, IFS-Logistic certification of 8 Logistic companies whereas IFS-broker certification of 7 traders will be completed during the project period for which Government will provide 70pc financial assistance during first year, 50pc during second year while 30pc during last year.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab encouraged growers and suppliers to send their applications before June 30 to get incentive of 70pc financial assistance to acquire Global Gap and IFS certification and to build necessary infrastructure in this regard.
He said that analytical laboratory at Kala Shah Kaku will be made functional at the earliest to test residual effects of pesticides in agricultural produce.