This workshop inaugurated by Project Director Agribusiness Development and Diversification Project -ADDP Mr Akram Khalid, who highlighted the importance of agribusiness for the country and the need to develop human resource through training who can understand agribusiness and train the small enterprises and their relevant staff in agribusiness management skills. Dy. Project Director, ADDP gave a presentation on the project and its objectives and activities; Dean of Management Sciences, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University Islamabad, talked about the importance of learning and trainings. National Training Consultant welcomed the participants, senior officials of different departments who were present on the occasion.

Ministry of Food & Agriculture has launched its capacity building programme under the auspices of Agribusiness Development and Diversification Project. Forty Master Trainers of the Government Commerce Colleges (GCCs) and Vocational Training Institutes (VTIs) in the country will get training to conduct the training programmes

Agribusiness Development and Diversification Project -ADDP is working in collaboration with Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board (PHDEB). This eight days training course is 2nd of its kind after trainings of principals of these institutes in "School Management Skills" conducted earlier this month at the Islamic International University-Islamabad (IIUI), and it meant to build capacity of the Government Commerce Colleges (GCCs to launch training course for the small and medium agribusiness enterprises that will help these in adopting new techniques, learning about international standers and increasing exports. The overall focus of the TOT training Programme is on strengthening and supporting to provide basic information on agribusiness related principles, practices, tool and methodologies required in the management of production, post harvest operations, product development, quality maintenance and marketing of agribusiness and export markets with specific focus on 'Horticulture and Horti-business' and 'Livestock and Dairy Business' This training workshop will be followed by training of the farmers and the exporters in the selected areas throughout Pakistan through these GCCs.

Initially project is focusing on agribusiness, horticulture, livestock and dairy sub-sectors, Project interventions would result in increased productivity, improved product quality, and value addition by addressing constraints throughout the product value chain from production to markets. The project strategies are comprehensive and systemic and based on international best practices, designed to minimize market and institutional failures and rigidities.

The Agribusiness Development Project will cover all costs associated with training. PHDEB is providing the lead role in designing the training program for the capacity building they also have engaged Mohammad Ali Jinnah University Islamabad to impart this training.

Agribusiness is a mega project sponsored by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, with the technical and financial assistance of Asian Development Bank. The executing agencies include Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL), Department of Agricultural & Livestock Products Marketing & Grading, State Bank of Pakistan, Provincial Agriculture, Livestock and marketing Departments, and the Agriculture and Livestock Departments of FATA, FANA and AJK. The Project has its headquarters in Islamabad and implementation offices in Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal & Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.