RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) and Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam organized seminar on Export Potential of Banana issues and opportunities, here at the university campus.

The programme attracted a large number of the producers, processors, exporters, development practitioner, researcher, academia, progressive farmers and students.

Speaking on the occasion, SAU vice chancellor Prof Mujeebuddin Memon highlighted the importance of commercial commodity and emphasized that there is a need to develop collaboration between public and private sector organizations for export promotion of banana. He further added that climate change and food insecurity are major issues and farmers should adopt technology of the banana, dates, mango and guava at their field level. He urged the scientists and researchers to conduct their research on horticulture crops especially fruits and vegetables to cope the challenges of climate change and food security in the country.

While speaking on the occasion, TDAP deputy director Ashique Hussain Khoso highlighted the role of Trade Development Authority for educating the growers of various commodities in Sindh Pakistan. He highlighted that banana of Sindh province is famous in all over the world with its aroma and taste and has a great potential for export. He advised the farmers to understand the dynamics of banana marketing system for their export and assured that the TDAP authority of Pakistan would help the growers to display their agri products at Expo-Pakistan to export their banana.

TDAP assistant director Salahuddin Abbasi said diversification of varieties in banana crop are the need of the day and farmers should adopt new varieties for quality production of banana at their field level and he added that TDAP would support the farmers to export their crops for international market and to earn foreign exchange.

Sindh Abadgar Board senior vice president Syed Nadeem Shah Jamote highlighted the issues of the banana growers he added that the role of rural women cannot be ignored in agriculture sector and women should be empowered for socio economic development.

SAU director university advancement and financial assistance Prof Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar gave his presentation on Banana Marketing System Issues and Challenges.

Lead banana grower of Sindh Niaz Ahmed Nizamani said the farmers are facing quality banana suckers and there is a need to solve the issues of the farmers at a gross root level and plant tissues cultures should be given to the farmers on subsides rates