Agriculture growth, export targets may be missed: NDMA

Agriculture growth and exports targets for the current fiscal year are feared to be missed in the wake of floods in Sindh that damaged 80 percent cotton and other crops on 1.7 million acres agricultural land, forcing the federal government to launch national appeal to cope with massive devastation in the province.
Addressing a news conference here on Monday. Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Dr Zafar Qadir, hinted that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would appeal the nation to help in coping with the massive devastation caused by unexpected spells of rain which destroyed 80 percent cash crops on 1.7 million acres. He said that overall damage by the flood in the province was in no way less than the previous year and estimated 2.3 million cotton bales have been affected, which would have adverse impact on textile exports. He said that 4.0 million acres of land was inundated, of which 1.7 million acres was cropped area.
The NDMA Chairman said that 132 people have lost their lives by flooding in last couple of weeks that also killed around 60,000 cattle heads and badly damaged cotton, chillies and dates. He said that over 6,90,000 houses have been damaged by flood, of which 2,50,000 had been completely destroyed while remaining are partially damaged and four to five million people were affected. He said that 1400 relief camps were set up to house the affected families.
Qadir said that so far Rs 1.5 billion had been spent on relief operation from available Rs 7 billion allocated in the budget for emergency relief and remaining amount would barely be sufficient for relief operation for another 25 days. He said that there is a forecast of rain for another three days and once the rain is over the NDMA would dispatch two teams in flood affected areas, one to ascertain cause of flood and other to conduct survey and assess quantum of losses. Qadir said that per acre and per capita loss by flood in Sindh province was more than previous year and grave situation required serious response to alleviate suffering of four to five million affected people.
Dr Qadir said that disaster management is a provincial subject but the Prime Minister who visited the flood affected areas on August 13, directed to extend every help to the Sindh government and immediately team were sent by the federal government to help local authorities providing relief to the people. He said that over 0.6 million food packets were provided to the people in flood affected areas with 0.5 million contributed by the federal government along with 28,000 tents. He said the Prime Minister also directed the NDMA to purchase all the available stock of tents in the country for this purpose and arrangement have also been made with the private company to dispatch 50,000 food packets daily in the affected areas and supply would begin in next few days. He said that life saving drugs and water purifying tablets are being provided in the flood affected areas.