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UMT School of Professional Advancement (SPA) in collaboration with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) and Veterinary News and Views held a high profile training session, titled, ‘Agro-Livestock Marketing and Branding Workshop.’ The aim of the workshop was to highlight the current happenings of the Pakistani Agro-Livestock sector and traditional methods opted by our farmers in the marketing of the agro-livestock products.
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The guest speakers included Ruman Wassay, Group Manager, Auriga Chemicals, Kalil Arbi, Assistant Professor, SPA, and Insha Nadir, Deputy Director, Punjab Halal Board. All the speakers emphasized on developing an entrepreneurial environment for the agricultural sector and consensus based policy framework for development of corporate farming.
According to Ruman Wassay, Pakistani farmers are unaware of the rules pertaining to agricultural farming and lack technical knowledge. He gave examples of India and US who are technologically more advanced and well informed about the latest agricultural techniques. He cited the case studies of Indian cities home-based processing units which are getting reasonable prices for cutting and chopping of fruits and vegetables and of pickle centers which are operating in India and 76% of the pickle is only exported by India to the whole world. Mr Ruman Wassay also mentioned his personal visit to Indian groundnut industry which is making milk, curd and cheese by using groundnut and suggested the establishment of agro-based industries.
Kalil Arbi gave a detailed presentation on the significance of marketing and branding in agro-livestock products. He quoted the instances of developed nations who follow a successful value chain system and best marketing practices which have provided them a competitive edge in the international market over Pakistan.
He further stated that defective marketing system of livestock and lack of technical education are the main weak areas of the livestock sector.
When it comes to branding the agro-livestock products, we need ultra-level intellectual business thinking and proper standardization in the production system of agro-livestock production and supply chain. Mr Kalil Arbi called for the technical expertise, training and UMT professional degrees programmes related to BS Agribusiness, Master of Agribusiness and MPS Agribusiness Management for the development of agro-livestock in Pakistan.
Insha Nadir, Deputy Director Punjab Halal Board also pointed out the challenges and potentials for Pakistani exporters. Halal is also catering to the non consumable products and the need of an hour is that we should gear Halal exports to ‘untapped market,’ abroad. She encouraged the participants to use the power of ‘Halal Pakistan’ globally and confront the challenges faced by the Halal market.
The workshop was attended by students and faculty members of SPA.
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