Islamabad, JAN 3 /DNA/ – Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali chairman PARC with the senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, inaugurated the first ever ginger cultivation during the ginger harvest workshop at Balkasar Chakwal. This was the first ginger harvest piloted in Pakistan. The crop duration is 9-10 months. Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali Chairman PARC, and other experts were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali Chairman PARC briefed Dr. Sania on the success of the ginger cultivation project and its potential to boost Pakistan’s farmer economy. The Chairman also told that this variety of ginger has been successfully grown and tested in the field and can yield up to approximately 8 to 10 tons per acre in this area. Dr Ali as a breeder of this ginger variety briefed that how he made different experiments successfully for this ginger variety development and introduction in pothohar area, and the role of PARC for development of different crop varieties, ginger germplasm collection from different countries for adoptability trial at different locations and management practices. He H Halso shared that successful cultivation of ginger in Pakistan can reduce import bill.
Dr Sania Nishtar in her address acknowledged the scientists and progressive farmer for this Innovation in ginger production in Pakistan. She said agriculture development and food security is imperative for poverty alleviation and progress in the country. Dr. Sania also added that ginger can emerge as a major crop and can be a game changer for the farming community. Public & private sector, research institutions, innovators and farmers can work together to build agri. value chains. This will lead to greater impact for poverty alleviation, livelihoods creation, economic growth and foreign trade boosting.
In the workshop, participants learnt from the experts about the sustainable production and management of ginger and how to properly harvest this crop. Experts also presented research based information regarding benefits of growing ginger locally at commercial scale.
