US-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development

Speeches Shim

The U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development is improving the ability of Pakistan's agriculture and livestock sectors to meet both international and domestic demand in targeted product lines. This partnership is working to create a more competitive agricultural sector and to allow select high-value products increased access to both export and domestic markets. To achieve its goals, the project is assisting in the development of market systems, quality standards, marketing associations, and better cooperation/coordination among traders, buyers, and growers. 

The  U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development has identified horticulture -- specifically mangoes, citrus (kinnow) and vegetables -- and livestock as having the greatest potentials for growth.  These product lines also contribute greatly toward GDP growth and benefit a large number of producers and other value chain actors.  Initial growth potential forecasts show that the four product lines can generate as much as $447 million (net present value (NPV)) in returns over six years. 

Expected results include increases of more than $265 million in export sales, and more than $150 million in domestic sales.  In addition, centralized value chain hubs will serve as a leverage points resulting in an estimated 20 percent increase in the average incomes of value chain actors, benefiting 16,000 producers and developing more than 30,000 employment opportunities.  The U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development began its operations in February 2015.

OBJECTIVES

The project has two guiding objectives:

Objective 1: Increase the efficiency, quality, and profitability of the aforementioned product lines, through the adoption of production, marketing, and business organization management practices to transform supply chains of select specific product lines to higher levels of production. The U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development  facilitates increased demand for Pakistani agricultural  products  and  fosters  supply-demand  synergies  between  producers and buyers, thereby complementing supply-side improvements by the USAID Agribusiness Project.

Objective 2: Improve market linkages within targeted product lines and develop the institutional capacity of catalytic actors within chains. The U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development  works with processors, traders, retailers, and ancillary service providers who support the targeted product lines.

MAIN ACTIVITIES 

  • Run a matching grant program for the meat, vegetables, mangoes, and citrus product lines through the end of the year, starting with meat and livestock, and also provide technical assistance to the private sector agribusinesses focusing on these product lines.
  • Help private sector processors upgrade their processing and packing lines.
  • Increase the efficiency, quality, and profitability of the aforementioned product lines, through the adoption of production, marketing, and business organization management practices to transform supply chains of select specific product lines to higher levels of production.
  • Facilitate increased demand for Pakistani agricultural products and foster supply-demand synergies between producers and buyers, thereby complementing supply-side improvements by the USAID Agribusiness Project. 
  • Improve market linkages within targeted product lines and develop the institutional capacity of catalytic actors within chains. The partnership will also work with processors, traders, retailers, and ancillary service providers who support the targeted product lines.