The value addition in food industry in the country is only 3 percent which is a hurdle to make economic development and to earn foreign exchange.

The value addition in food industry in the country is only 3 percent which is a hurdle to make economic development and to earn foreign exchange. It was stated by experts at international seminar on food processing: a neglected pearl of food sector arranged by National Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Food,Nutrition, and Home Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said that even our neighboring countries were progressing with fast pace in value addition but we are still lagging behind. He viewed that with food processing, we can widen our exports and can save billions of rupees. He added that in the fruit and vegetable, as many as 25 percent to 40 percent is being wasted that is a matter of grave concern. He said that farming community is working day and night to produce food for us but they were oppressed segment of the society. He added that the value addition would bring development and prosperity in their lives. University of Gambia Vice Chancellor Dr Faqir Muhammad Anjum said that Pakistan was producing one of best rice basmati with excellent aroma. He added that by overcoming post-harvest loses; we can increase productivity and income upto 40 percent. He stressed upon the need to develop the mechanism of processed fruits to get our share in international market. He said that livestock comprised 50 percent of the agricultural sector. There it is need of the hour to produce the processed food. He said that Pakistan was importing cheap palm oil worth Rs 300 billion. Dean Faculty of Food Sciences Dr Masood Sadiq Butt showed his concern that our import was increasing whereas export was facing declining trend. He said that value addition in the developed nations were more than 50 percent whereas we are stuck to 3 percent only. He added that beside malnutrition, and food security; food processing is an area where we have to make joint efforts in order to flourish the sector. NIFSAT Director General Dr Tahir Zahoor said that value addition in the food industry would open up new avenue of progress in the country. He added that the we were wasting huge fruits and vegetable due to lack of value addition. The issue needed to be addressed effectively.