Tokyo: Ambassador Farukh Amil (فاروق عامل) in a programme coordinated by renowned Professor Emeritus Shigemochi Hirashima visited Iijima Town in Nagano Prefecture, where a decade-long connection exists between the farmers of Nagano Prefecture and Hunza Valley. Under the JICA funded programme there is the exchange of technical expertise between the farmers of the two countries.
A team of Hunza farmers and officials joined the Ambassador for a tour of the apple orchards and gradation and processing factory. The Hunza farmers and officials expressed great appreciation of their learning and training experience, describing it as “irreplaceable.”
The Ambassador highlighted to the Japanese audiences that apples were only a part of a rich landscape of Pakistan’s agricultural produce. He said that Pakistan was blessed with a vast variety of delicious fruits and vegetables year round. Appreciating JICA’s valuable assistance the Ambassador emphasized that training to utilize these great resources, through production, packaging and marketing with modern means was essential.
The Town Authorities in welcoming the Ambassador expressed immense friendship for the people of Pakistan. In the evening a cultural show including traditional karate was presented. The Ambassador conveyed his deep appreciation for the hospitality and love shown by Japanese people for the people of Pakistan which was also expressed through the tangible cooperation of JICA and Iijima Town authorities and farmers.
The Ambassador also toured the major JICA training centre at Komagane where Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer Centre (JOVC) Training also takes place.
