Working together to upgrade local agribusinesses in Pakistan

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Gilgit Baltistan have brought together a range of stakeholders to review the current situation in the region’s agricultural and fisheries sectors.

The stakeholder consultation was organized under the Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Department Assistance to Pakistan – Initiative for Gilgit and Baltistan project, which is funded by the ONE UN Fund. The workshop was opened by Barbar Aman Barbar, Secretary of Planning and Development, of the Government of Gilgit Baltistan, who reiterated the government’s interest in developing the local agriculture sector through UNIDO’s technical assistance.

Trout, cherry and apple farmers from Gilgit Baltistan, demonstrated a strong commitment to developing their value chains based on a holistic approach, which will be developed by UNIDO. The interactive discussion and the participation of various stakeholders allowed for a deep insight into the problems that local farmers and traders currently face. They indicated the need for both short term and long term corrective measures, particularly related to productivity, packaging, branding and market linkages. Female farmers also made their voice heard by requesting further assistance from UNIDO with developing their productive and compliance capacities.

Nadia Aftab, UNIDO Country Representative highlighted the importance of UNIDO assistance to upgrade local agribusinesses through improving their productive capacities, compliance with requirements and linking them to markets. The initiative will reinforce sustainable livelihoods in Gilgit Baltistan, also contributing towards the government’s commitment to achieving the various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG1, SDG2, and SDG9.

The workshop concluded with agreement on setting a roadmap for the selected value chains in Gilgit Baltistan, which UNIDO will work on in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Planning, and Development Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as stakeholders and women’s organizations.

UNODC has also produced a series of tools and policy papers, including the web-based Smuggling of Migrants Knowledge Portal, and has led public campaigns against migrant smuggling in different parts of the world. In 2018, UNODC will publish a Global Study on the Smuggling of Migrants.

The new IOM-UNODC initiative encourages the main stakeholders to join forces against the smuggling of migrants. This may include joint research; reinforcing Member States’ capacities – upon request – to dismantle criminal networks engaging in migrant smuggling; enhancing assistance to smuggled migrants, or supporting the development of prevention strategies and action plans.

Original source: UNODC
Published on 28 March 2018