The document summarizes an exposure visit made by members of BIG (Business Innovation Group) and stakeholders to research institutions and farms in Lahore and Faisalabad from May 8-10, 2014. The visit included seeing improved rice and fruit production techniques at the Rice Research Institute and Auriga Research Farm in Lahore, and fruit processing equipment manufactured by Rasheed Engineering and a biogas power plant generating electricity at JK Agriculture Farm in Faisalabad. Key learnings included the need for a wider variety of certified rice seeds, promoting adoption through farmer profitability, and raising awareness of processing technologies.

1. NFR
Exposure Visit to National Research, Technology and Markets of Rice
and Fruit Processing in Lahore and Faisalabad (May 8-10, 2014)
Regional Officer, Economic Growth
PEACE, SRSP, Swat
May 15, 2014
Proceeding upon the learning, an exposure of BIG members and stakeholders was availed (May 8-10, 2014) to
the following institutions and organizations both in public and private domain at Lahore and Faisalabad.
 Rice Research Institute (RRI) Kalashakaku, Lahore
 Auriga Research Farm Multan road, Lahore
 Rasheed Engineering, Faisalabad
 JK Agriculture Farm, Progressive farming system in
Faisalabad
Approach & Methodology
Around 27 tons of certified rice seed produced
in Malakand held as change initiative in the rice
value chain of whole division even. Learning
experiences during the course of PRACE
interventions for this certified rice seed
production reveled that:
o Wider varietal scope of rice should be
kept for sustainable growth
o Stakeholders involved at local level
need exposure to national level
information and learning for effective
services delivery to the value chain
o Initially the seed production be kept
steady looking at proper adoptability
by rice growers based on profit
incentives to them
o Awareness and promotional campaign
for certified seed need frequent and
proper weight initially
o Daily visit planning, group formation and
tasks assignment
o Daily Visit , Observation and Learning
o Group presentation, sharing and
conceptual clarities night time

2. Observations & Learning
(I)
RRI Kalashakaku
Meeting with scientist and Visit to
Technology sections RRI
o Improved methods of
ragging
o Manual techniques of
healthy and pure seed
collection after harvest
o Simple devices of seed
cleaning
o Hand driven harvester
o Seed graders and Cleaners
(II)
AURIGA Research Farm (Private
sector) Multan road Lahore
o Imported and Improved rice
varieties discussed
o Rice pest and diseases and
preventive measures
discussed
o Improved Maiz, wheat and
Tomato varieties discussed in
the farmers interest
o Seed production plots visited
and rice seed production
technology discussed in
length and learning
developed

3. (III)
Rashid Engineering –
Manufacturer of Fruit Processing
Units, Faisalabad
o Fruit processing at cottage
level discussed and seen
o 3 types of multipurpose fruit
/vegetable pulpers of Small,
Mid and Big sizes
shown/discussed
o Hybrid of Electric and Gas
fruit dryers seen & discussed
o Walnut crackers identified &
discussed
o Designing of Lemon grass oil
extractor discussed
(III)
JK Agriculture Farm – Electrify
generation through Bio Gas plant
Faisalabad
o 70 KW electrify generated
and utilized for operations of
3000 acres of Agri farm
Shown/discussed
o Daily 5 tones of buffalo and
cow dung used (12-15 kgs
dung received per big animal
per day)
o 35-40 Cubic meter gas
produced / day
o 70 KW electricity generated
per day
o Slurry drained in irrigation
water works as fertilizer of
land