Pakistan secures €20 million Italian financing to upgrade agricultural workforce

Pakistan has secured €20 million (approximately Rs6.3 billion) in concessional financing from Italy to launch a nationwide programme aimed at strengthening agricultural skills, modernising vocational training and improving productivity across key farming value chains.

The funding will support a 42-month initiative under Pakistan's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) National Reform Programme, which seeks to align agricultural training with the evolving needs of the sector through enhanced technical certification, professional capacity building and innovation.

As part of the programme, 720 training courses will be conducted for an estimated 18,398 beneficiaries, including farmers, extension workers, trainers, women and youth. Authorities also plan to develop 11 standardised curricula to create a more uniform and industry-oriented agricultural training system.

The initiative places particular emphasis on high-value agriculture, with training covering horticulture production, post-harvest processing and marketing. Priority crops include olives, pistachios, dates, mushrooms, cherries, grapes, peaches and almonds, with the programme drawing on Italy's expertise in modern agronomic practices.

To strengthen on-ground capacity, the project will establish 12 model orchards and nurseries, eight eco-villages equipped with climate-resilient technologies, five agro-food processing units, and two National Centres of Excellence specialising in citrus and date production in Sargodha, Punjab, and Turbat, Balochistan.

The Pakistan Oilseed Department will implement the project in partnership with provincial agriculture departments. According to the government, the initiative is expected to boost rural employment, increase farmers' incomes, strengthen farmer cooperatives, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance the competitiveness of Pakistan's agriculture sector.

The financing agreement was signed on Monday by Secretary for Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim and Italian Ambassador Marilina Armellin. Senior officials from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and provincial agriculture departments attended the signing ceremony.

The government said the agreement underscores the longstanding development partnership between Pakistan and Italy and reflects both countries' commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture, vocational skills development and inclusive economic growth through bilateral cooperation.