Lahore : FACE successfully conducted the 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 2025, bringing together 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, along with farmers, processors, cold storage operators, seed industry representatives, exporters, researchers, M.Phil scholars from agriculture universities, and policymakers to deliberate on key challenges, opportunities, and the future direction of Pakistan’s potato sector.
𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐨 commended FACE’s leadership in convening all key stakeholders of the potato value chain on one platform. He highlighted that value-chain-based collaboration is essential to tackling Pakistan’s economic pressures and climate challenges. He also emphasized the need for similar multi-stakeholder engagement across other agricultural value chains in the future.
The conference featured expert insights from 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐤𝐞 𝐖𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧, Dutch potato specialist with over 40 years of experience, and 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧, CEO Frozena Foods, Egypt, who shared international best practices and recommendations adaptable to Pakistan’s potato industry.
Our 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 highlighted FACE’s strategic shift toward a 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧-𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡, with potato as a leading example, followed by red chilies and olives.
Concluding the session, the 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 at FACE outlined key focus areas, highlighting the need for targeted investment in local seed production, strengthening cold storage and post-harvest infrastructure to minimize losses and preserve quality, expanding access to new export markets, and improving potato quality through the adoption of best agricultural practices.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 2025 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧—𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
