27/09/2020 Peshawar - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations inaugurated Fruits and Vegetable and livestock market infrastructures established in South Waziristan with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Additional Deputy Commissioner of District South Waziristan, local district administration, FAO officials and local farmers, traders’ community participated in the event. Gregory Macris, United States’ Consul General in Peshawar, and Waleed Mahdi, International Coordinator, FAO, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through video messages appreciated the strong partnership between Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FAO, USAID and the local communities.  The event was held in strict compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols.
This intervention is a part of the restoration and establishment of new market infrastructure and enterprise development services under which 13 cluster-based packing sheds, five fruit and vegetable auction sheds and three livestock markets will be established in the Districts of South Waziristan, North Waziristan and Khyber. Specifically, in District South Waziristan, the project has successfully completed five market structures including one livestock market, two fruit and vegetable packing shed and two fruit and vegetable auction sheds. The vegetable and fruit enterprise establishment will not only support value chain development and improved agriculture practices in the merged districts for year round production, but will also provide a viable environment for fruits, vegetable and livestock management creating market linkages for farmers amidst COVID-19.
Additional Deputy Commissioner South Waziristan district, Mr. Faheed Ullah Khan appreciated the efforts of FAO and USAID stating that support to vulnerable community of South Waziristan through agricultural interventions is timely and commendable though there is more scope for support to this sector in remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He assured government’s support and cooperation for the developmental work in merged areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
 “The modernization of markets structures is a key step in the revitalization of agriculture and food systems, and in improving livelihoods in the area. This will enable the local farmers to have access to the markets, developing market linkages between food supply chains. During the challenging times of COVID-19, FAO has continued its support to all the food actors, improve their livelihoods and economic situation, improve the supply chain, and contribute to the economic development of the region. Introducing innovation in the local agriculture systems, together with capacity development of Farmers Collective Centres and Farmer Field School approach has allowed to strengthen the agriculture supply chain,” said Mina Dowlatchahi, FAO Representative in Pakistan.
“The market structures are part of support to commercial agriculture activities to maintain and increase the value chain agriculture produce”, said Waleed Mahdi, International Project Coordinator, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.   
FAO is supporting 42,763 households under the project funded by USAID. The project aims to significantly contribute to reduction of poverty, and economic inequalities through the resumption of food production and restoration and improvement of agriculture-based livelihoods in the target areas.