GILGIT: On Monday, the Apricot Festival was held in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)’s Shigar area with the goal of promoting regional goods and giving farmers and business owners the chance to market organic goods on the global market.
The occasion was attended by GB minister Raja Azam Khan, governor Syed Mehdi Shah, senator Rubina Khalid, chair of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), a number of foreign and local tourists, farmers, business owners, and officials.
As the BISP chairperson was touring the stalls featuring a variety of apricot species, apricot oil and byproducts, other local fruit, organic food, herbs, and handicrafts, she expressed interest in setting up training for women farmers in conjunction with the food, agriculture, and livestock departments of GB.
“This partnership aims to combat poverty, maximize agricultural productivity, and empower rural women, bringing about a revolutionary transformation at the grassroots level,” the speaker declared.
She described the event as a lively commemoration of the area’s rich farming history, showcasing a variety of regionally grown fruits, herbs, and handcrafted items.
Shigar district has the ability to produce a variety of organic fruits and locally made goods, according to Shigar Deputy Commissioner Waliullah Falahi. In order to preserve apricots and other fruits for export to other nations, he claimed that cold storage was crucial in the region.
According to Minister Raja Azam, the occasion gave farmers and business owners in the area a chance to network and grow their enterprises. According to him, the district has been hosting the apricot festival for the past five years.
According to Governor Shah, this event gives the villagers a chance to learn about current farming techniques and sell their goods in foreign marketplaces.
