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Islamabad — The ACIAR-funded Pulses Value Chain Project held its concluding policy dialogue at Ramada Hotel Islamabad, unveiling Pakistan’s first-ever Pulses Industry Development Strategy based on five years of interventions (2020–2025). The strategy document, developed through extensive research and field engagement, outlines a roadmap for strengthening the country’s pulses sector.
Dr. Ragindra Adhikari, Project Leader from the University of Queensland, welcomed participants and shared the project’s key activities. The strategy emphasizes motivating farmers to cultivate pulses by building their capacity in grading, cleaning, branding, storage, and cooperative models to develop stronger market linkages.
The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Asif Ali, Chairman of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), who praised ACIAR’s efforts in producing Pakistan’s first industry-wide development strategy. He stressed the importance of widely circulating the document among researchers, academics, and policymakers, particularly highlighting its value for seed value chain development.
The forum was attended by Director Generals of Research and Extension from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, along with Member Planning Commission Dr. Mubarik Ali, Dr. Khalid Hussain (Director Pulses, AARI), and representatives from leading development organizations including the World Bank and LOG SANG Foundation.
Dr. Ghulam Sadiq Afridi, Chairman PARC, extended a vote of thanks, commending the PARC team for leading this initiative. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration in implementing the strategy and strengthening Pakistan’s food security through sustainable pulse production.
The session concluded with the distribution of souvenirs to dignitaries, marking a significant milestone for the country’s agricultural sector.