<p>The United States, with a pavilion at the Dawn Sarsabz Agri Expo, showcased its long-standing support for Pakistan’s agriculture sector.  The U.S. Pavilion highlights initiatives to modernize the agriculture sector, improve value chains and market access, increase yields and income for farmers, and ensure the sector’s sustainability.  The two-day exhibition in Lahore, inaugurated today at the Expo Center in Johar Town, is open to the public.
</p><p>“The U.S. Consulate stands ready to assist where we can in facilitating linkages between U.S. and Pakistani companies in the food and agriculture sector,” stated U.S. Consul General in Lahore Zachary Harkenrider at the Agri Expo inaugural session. 
</p><p><br>
The Expo’s U.S. Pavilion features a number of agricultural assistance programs by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that help build Pakistan’s export capacity, especially in the areas of small and medium-sized agri-businesses and agricultural producers. 
</p><p>Supporting economic growth and agricultural development is a top U.S. priority in Pakistan.  USAID agriculture projects help increase employment and incomes. To boost Pakistan’s agricultural productivity, USAID has introduced advanced farming technologies, services, and practices; built additional irrigation infrastructure; and introduced improved water management practices.  USAID also assists agribusinesses in Pakistan to form new partnerships and increase their access to financing and more lucrative markets. These programs will augment the expansion of new private sector agriculture investments in Pakistan.  Over the past 5 years, USAID projects have increased exports by $52 million, increased sales by $127 million, and leveraged $11 million in new investments.
</p><p>USDA has partnered with the Government of Pakistan, U.S. land grant universities, and international partners to increase agricultural productivity in Pakistan; build institutional capacities to better regulate animal and plant health and food safety issues; and strengthen institutional research capabilities and U.S.-Pakistani scientific collaboration.
</p>
USDA programs promote the adoption of new agricultural practices and technologies, and foster collaboration in the areas of animal disease control, aquaculture, cotton diseases, crop estimation forecasting, watershed management and irrigation technology, improvement of soil fertility, and wheat diseases, among others.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/60088208@N06">USAID Pakistan</a>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usaid_pakistan/16654539347/">Maggie Schoch, Deputy Director USAID Punjab at  the  Baluchistan Agriculture Project stall at Dawn Agri Expo</a>