FAWAD URGED TO EXPEDITE PAKISTAN INNOVATION FUND TO OVERCOME CRISIS. The Financial Daily 28/08/2020

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged Fawad Chaudhry federal minister for Science and Technology to expedite the Pakistan Innovation Fund (PIF) and to treat hydroponic farming as a technology subject and include it in its innovation promotion agenda.
UNISAME president Zulfikar Thaver said that when our SMEs import equipment and tools and green houses under agricultural accessories and equipment the duty is more than when such items are imported under technology equipment.
In order to promote hydroponic farming to make it popular and to increase production of vegetables, fruits, flowers it is very important that hydroponic farming technology is accepted as an innovative technology and taken in the fold of the ministry of science and technology.
Secondly UNISAME experts expect that the Pakistan Innovation Fund announced in the budget 2020-21 will not be delayed and will start functioning on war footings.
Thirdly it was requested that sufficient funds would be allotted to promote hydroponic farming, fisheries and modernization of SME units on the basis of introducing innovation and technology to replace orthodox systems.
Fourthly it is pertinent to note the ongoing rains have caused huge damaged to standing crops and SME farmers are very badly affected and need support to engage in vertical hydroponic farming instead of horizontal farming which would not be possible till next few months until the water recedes Thaver emphasized.

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