Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan and Australia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture and livestock, aiming to strengthen food security, boost productivity, and expand market access between the two countries.
The understanding was reached during a meeting chaired by Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain with Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Timothy Kane.
The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, the Livestock Commissioner, and senior officials from relevant departments.
Discussions focused on improving agricultural and livestock yields, addressing market access and biosecurity challenges, and expanding technical collaboration.
Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the long-standing and friendly relations between Pakistan and Australia, dating back to 1948, noting that as members of the Commonwealth, both countries share common values and interests.
He said the presence of the Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan would further strengthen bilateral engagement, particularly in the agriculture sector.
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Emphasizing the importance of agriculture to Pakistan’s economy, the Minister stated that around 65 percent of the population is directly or indirectly linked to agriculture, while 36 percent of total employment depends on the sector.
He noted that livestock accounts for nearly 60 percent of the agricultural economy, yet productivity remains low. Key challenges include the need to establish Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)–free zones and to improve animal weight and yield to enhance farmers’ profitability.
The Minister informed the meeting that the government has allocated Rs 7.35 billion over two years to control FMD, initiated the creation of disease-free compartments, and is importing vaccines from Russia and China.
He also pointed out that Pakistan’s average crop yield stands at around 30 maunds per acre, compared to 45 maunds per acre in India, and expressed a desire to benefit from Australia’s expertise to enhance productivity amid growing global food security concerns.
On horticulture, Rana Tanveer Hussain said Pakistan aims to increase mango exports to Australia. While Australia has shown willingness to import more Pakistani mangoes, certain technical and regulatory hurdles remain.
He assured that Pakistan is ready to resolve these issues promptly. He also announced the formation of a dedicated working group under his leadership to ensure follow-up and implementation of pending matters, with both sides nominating focal persons and holding two to three meetings annually.
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Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane reaffirmed Australia’s strong commitment to its relationship with Pakistan, acknowledging the country’s fertile land and agricultural potential. He noted Australia’s progress in digitizing phytosanitary and regulatory processes and offered technical exchanges and training opportunities for Pakistani officials.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar highlighted Australia’s success in achieving high yields with efficient water use, suggesting valuable lessons for Pakistan.
He stressed the need for new livestock breeds, certified slaughterhouses, and value addition, proposing a Pakistani delegation’s visit to Australia to observe modern livestock and meat export facilities.
The Livestock Commissioner added that several Australian-supported projects are already underway in Pakistan, particularly in dairy development, breed improvement, and capacity building.
