LAHORE: Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi met head of Commercialization and Scaling (Harvest Plus Washington) Jenny Walton and AGAHE Foundation delegation at Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday. The delegation included CEO AGAHE Foundation Mubarak Ali Sarwar, Value Chain Specialist (Harvest Plus) Dr Muhammad Imtiaz, Country Manager Pakistan (Harvest Plus) Dr Muhammad Yaqub and Dr Makhdoom Hussain.
During the meeting, both sides discussed elimination of zinc deficiency in women, children and youth through balanced food supply, in addition to bio-fortification of wheat. The participants agreed to continue efforts for promotion of bio-fortification in rice and maize in addition to wheat.
On the occasion, Provincial Minister Syed Hussain Jahania Gardezi said that social awareness is being raised in rural areas for food fortification and daily consumption of balanced food. Pakistani scientists and researchers are working on introducing fortified varieties of wheat and hybrid seed supply is being ensured to farmers, the Minister maintained. He said that steps are being taken at the government level to achieve better quality as well as higher production of crops. Mr Gardezi further said that digitalization is being introduced in the agricultural sector and in this regard Aird Agriculture University Rawalpindi has established a smart farm.
It is important to mention here that Jenny Walton has been working for promotion of fortified, iron and zinc rich varieties of food in underdeveloped countries of the world.
