PESHAWAR: Speakers at a seminar on Friday emphasised that the provincial government take urgent steps to support small farmers and ensure food security for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan Kisan Ittehad and the provincial core group on agriculture in collaboration with the NGOs ActionAid, Oxfam and Community Development Organisation, Swabi, organised the seminar, according to a statement issued here. The seminar was held in connection with the World Food Day.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial agriculture minister Ikramullah Gandapur said the new agriculture policy had been framed in the light of the suggestions from small farmers to promote farming in the province. He said the KP government would increase the budget for the agriculture sector to ensure greater food security.

Other speakers said ensuring food security must be the top priority of the provincial government. They said the government should take more steps for the betterment of small farmers as they contributed to food security and sustainable agriculture.

Also present on the occasion were directors general of extension, research and soil conservation of agricultural department, provincial coordinator of Pakistan Kisan Ittehad, chairman provincial core group, representatives of farmers organisations, civil society activists and agriculture experts.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2015

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