SWAT: A peach fair was organized under the auspices of the Agri-Tourism Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , at the Agricultural Research Institute, Mingora, with the collaboration of the Department of Agriculture (Extension) Swat and Swat Agro Chemicals in Swat District.
Director General (DG) of Agriculture Department (Research Branch) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr. Abdul Rauf officially inaugurated the peach fair.
In the fair, farmers from across Swat had set up stalls of various types of peaches, pears, plums and dry fruits including beverages.
Medicine stalls were also decorated by agro-medicine companies.
Director General Dr. Abdul Rauf described the gathering of farmers , landowners and private institutions under one roof as important for solving agricultural problems and promoting agri-tourism as useful for the development of agriculture.
Vice-Chancellor, Agricultural University, Swat, Dr. Dawood Jan also took part in this peach fair and said that in the West and Europe, people who are not familiar with farming go to the farmers and meet with them and learn a lot about farming., added that this fair is also a series of this kind so that people come from outside and go to the orchards and pick the fruit yourself and take it away, then agro-tourism will be able to develop.
President Central Management Committee Farm Services Centers District Swat Salahuddin Khan was the Chief Guest of the function.
Director Agriculture Research Institute Mingora Dr. Roshan Ali, PRO Horticulture Dr. Khalilur Rehman and Research Officer Nadia Bustan gave a detailed briefing to the participants regarding the role of Agriculture Research Institute Mingora regarding peach and other fruit orchards.
At the beginning of the event, Dr. Roshan Ali, Director, Agriculture Research Institute, Mingora, gave a welcome speech and informed the participants about the aims and objectives of organizing the Peach fair in Swat.
He thanked the Secretary Agriculture Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Minister of Agriculture Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that they have taken interest in the innovation, development and prosperity of the farmers in agriculture in this area and are fully cooperating with the institution in this regard.
He said that such events will be organized in the future as well so that more work can be done to solve the problems of the farmers and for their prosperity.
Muhammad Sadiq, Director, Agriculture Extension Department, Swat Lower said in his address that the efforts of the organization will continue to solve the problems of the farmers at their doorstep.
He reiterated the commitment that joint efforts will continue to be made with the Agricultural Research Institute Mingora to solve the problems of the farmers on a priority basis.
On this occasion, Muhammad Saeed Khan (Chief Executive Officer, Agri-Tourism Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) thanked the participants and informed the participants in detail about the objectives of agri-tourism and the benefits of the peach fair.
Farmers of the area Sharifullah Khan, Amani Room Bacha, Rahmat Ali Advocate said on this occasion that organizing such fairs will not only encourage them, but it will also make the farmers aware of new types and new varieties. They said that 70% of Pakistan’s peaches are produced in Swat, but unfortunately steps have not been taken at the government level to export peaches from Swat.
“If the government brings exporters from outside and inside the country to Swat, not only will it be possible to earn a lot of foreign exchange by exporting the peaches of Swat, but it will also develop agricultural tourism in Swat.” they demanded.
At the end of the event, honorary shields were distributed among the participants and certificates of appreciation were distributed among the stall holders.
