KARACHI: United States has recently contributed $190 million under farmers rehabilitation programme to provide money to flood victims so that they can rebuilt their homes and livelihoods. This is in addition to the money, the United States had already provided for flood relief activities, said US Consul General William Martin in an interview.
"We are distributing seeds, fertilizers and farms tools among affected people so that they can began cultivation on their land and earn their livelihoods", he added.
He said that last week USA distributed sunflower seeds, fertilizers and agricultural implements in Jacobabad district for sunflower cultivation.
The $15 million (Rs1.3 billion) USAID funded project, is a part of a larger, comprehensive commitment on the part of the United States to help the people of Pakistan recover from the devastating monsoon floods.
It will fund seed, fertilizer, and soil preparation to allow farmers to sow sunflowers in eight flood-affected districts to supplement or replace their usual wheat crop, which many were unable to sow because of standing water left by the monsoon floods.
To a question about the future ventures, Martin said that US is currently working on new projects for Sindh and Balochistan in agriculture, education, health and energy sectors.
“We are closely working with NGOs and the government of Pakistan to identify projects for Sindh and Balochistan. At the same time we are working to improve hospitals in Karachi and Jacobabad, improving schools in devastated areas,” he opined.
He said that power plants in Guddoo and Jashmoro are being rehabilitated and revamped to make them more efficient, cost effective and generate more power for the country.
“We will also take up schools and hospitals that were damaged during the floods. They are in thousands,” he said.
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