Nestlé Pakistan has entered into a partnership with National Agriculture Research Council (NARC) to adopt efficient water management techniques which will improve agricultural yield. This initiative is part of the Nestle 2030 ambition to drive for zero impact in its operations, by ensuring responsible use of resources and stewarding them for future generations. The agriculture sector remains one of the largest and most inefficient users of water hence it is important to focus on increasing the overall efficiency of water use by this sector.
Through this partnership, Nestlé Pakistan will enhance NARC’s technical capacity by establishing a site that demonstrates best practices that enhance crop production with minimum use of water. The site will serve as knowledge hub for farmers on scientifically proven irrigation management techniques, including installation of solar pumps, drip systems and a delivery line network on a 6 acre crop site.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Yusuf Zafar (Chairperson NARC) said: “Our partnership with Nestlé Pakistan is an excellent example of the important role public-private partnerships can play in addressing the water challenge being faced by Pakistan. There is great inefficient water use in agriculture and we are hopeful that this collaboration will serve as a knowledge sharing platform on moving towards sustainable agriculture. By adopting innovative techniques such as drip irrigation systems, furrow-bed, and sprinkler systems the precious and scarce water resource can be saved and used efficiently on farms. Through our collaboration we can showcase to farmers how they can they achieve sustainable agricultural production and improve crop yield”.
Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Pakistan, said, “Water is a shared resource and the best way to protect it is by adopting a multi-stakeholder collaborative approach. As part of our Water Stewardship commitment we are working towards achieving water efficiency across our operations. Pakistan being primarily an agriculture country, there is an even greater need to adopt water efficient practices. Our partnership with NARC is key in helping achieve this and in educating communities on how to use water efficiently, particularly in agriculture”.
About NARC
National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), established in 1984, is the largest research centre of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). NARC, with a total land area of approximately 1400 acres, is located near Rawal Lake, six kilometers south-east of Islamabad. Physical facilities in term of experimental fields, laboratories, green houses, gene bank, library/ documentation, auditorium, machinery & lab equipment repair workshops, stores, hostels, cafeteria, audio visual studios, are also available at NARC.
About Nestlé Pakistan
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 189 countries around the world, and its 328,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people. Their ranges of 2000 brands include local favorites like Nestlé MILKPAK and Fruita Vitals. Company performance is driven by its Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Nestlé is based in the Swiss town of Vevey where it was founded more than 150 years ago.
For further information, please contact:
Zara Basharat
Corporate Media Relations Manager, Nestlé Pakistan
Cell: 0321-555-1130
Email: [email protected]
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