Islamabad, November 13, 2008

MoUs for introduction of management and technical training between Agribusiness Development and Diversification Project (ADDP) and 40 Institutions throughout the country were signed whereby the ADDP will provide technical and financial assistance for the introduction of demand driven curricula relevant to agribusiness.

In this respect, the Agribusiness Development & Diversification Project and Secretary Labour and Secretary Education, Government of Balochistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MOU enshrines commitments to launch management related courses in the Government Commerce College, and 2 Technical Training Centers in Quetta.

The ADDP and Department of Labour and Education will collaborate to build the capacity of selected institutions for introducing agribusiness related curricula and certificate course for managers, supervisors, technicians and entrepreneurs. The objective is to enhance the capacity of the partner institutions for introducing the curricula and provide logistical support. The partners agree to introduce the courses on agribusiness management, export procedures and supply chain management, WTO and international standards compliance, fresh fruit and vegetable handing techniques, and fruit and vegetable processing and preservation. According to the MoU, the principles and heads of selected institutions will collaborate in the training in "School of Management Skills". Training of Trainers (ToT) will be undertaken using the training manuals developed through a participatory process by the project. The selected institutions will be provided with the "Training Manuals" for the courses. Each selected institution will indentify and nominate two faculty members who will be trained to act as future Master Trainers to impart training courses to the stakeholders including entrepreneurs, managers', supervisors and others. Initially the certification shall be done by the partner institutions which will subsequently be replaced by certification of courses by recognized institutions to increase the impact of training in the entrepreneurial activities as well as for availing better employment opportunities. Quality and usefulness of training will help in further replicating and broadening the clientele base as well in institutionalization of the training and certification.

The Agribusiness Development Project will cover all costs associated with training of the principals of the selected institutions in School Management Skills and Training of Trainers; the Project will also cover the cost of introducing of agribusiness courses for the beneficiaries.

A total of 40 institutions will receive the Project's support which includes 20 Commerce Colleges and 20 Vocational Training Institutions. The School Management Training will be received by 40 heads of Institutions while 240 faculty members will get trained as 40 master trainers will be trained in each of the thematic area. In the area of management training it is aimed that around 5000-6000 beneficiaries will get trained until June 2010.

Agribusiness is a a joint initiative 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. The overall focus of the Agribusiness Development Project is on strengthening and supporting demand driven private sector service delivery mechanisms throughout the agribusiness value chain including: supply inputs, production and processing, and developing cool chain for domestic and export markets with specific focus on 'Horticulture and Hortibusiness' and 'Livestock and Dairy business'.

The MoU would open new avenues for economic growth and employment generation in Pakistan. The selected institutes would become involved in the agribusiness development and introduce courses for relevant workforce development in the agribusiness sector.