Solid Measures Afoot For Promotion Of Tea Cultivation: NA Informed

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Augst,2016) : Parliament Secretary for National food Security and Research Rajab Ali Khan Baloch said Friday National Tea and High Value Research Institute (NTHRI) Manshera was working for the promotion of tea cultivation in the country. Speaking during question-hour, the parliamentary secretary said in the National Assembly it had established tea garden on 34 acres at the institute and 50 acres at farmers field in Manshera District, adding 4.5 tons green tea had been produced and processed. He said efforts were being made to acquire new tea germplasm from Srilanka, Kenya and Turkey, adding two development projects were underway for the promotion of tea in the country including Participatory Development of Tea Value Chain around Manshera Area under Agriculture Linkage Programme (ALP). He said the other project was Mechanization of tea production and promotion of green tea to improve profitability under Research for Agriculture Development Programme (RADP).

Replying to another question, he said PASSCO had procured 779,541 M.Tons wheat during the current year 2016 from Punjab and other provinces. He said dispatches of wheat stocks of 146,369 M.Tons to the Recipient Agencies have been made from April, 1 to July 28, 2016. He said PASSCO stored approximately 80 per cent wheat stocks in open on raised plinths but no storage loss occurred due to the best management practices and care and preservation of stocks by the PASSCO field staff. He said PASSCO's situation with regards to availability of Grain-storage is Precarious and keeping in view the dearth situation of house type godowns. He said PASSCO commenced construction of 20 house-type godowns and construction of 10 godowns have already been completed, which would enhance and develop PASSCO grain storage capacity with an additional quantity of 22,000 M.Tons.