ISLAMABAD: The federal government in collaboration with the provincial governments would spent Rs 290 billion on the development and uplift of agriculture, livestock sectors across the country under National Agriculture Emergency Program during next five years.
The amount would be spent on 18 different projects across 5 areas including increasing of per acre crop yield, water resources conservation, harnessing the potential of fisheries, livestock and increase access to finance, Secretary of Ministry of National Food Security and Research Dr Hashim Popalzai said while briefing to media here on Tuesday.
He said the projects were designed on cost sharing between provinces, federal and farmers, adding that out of the total allocated amount the federal government would provide Rs92.5 billion where as the rest would be managed by the provinces with their own resources. In order to design the projects, 23 working groups were formed with representation of federal, provincial governments and progressive farmers as well as other stakeholders which had held more them 50 meetings so far, he added.
He said the PC-I of these projects is being finalizing and it would be executed by the first month of next financial year, adding Galgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir would be accommodate by the federal government for promoting the agriculture sector in respective areas.
He said Rs 218 billion would be spent on water resource conservation, Rs 44.8 billion on the improvement of major crops per acre output including wheat, rice and sugarcane, where as Rs19.5 billion would be spent harnessing the true potential of fisheries. Dr Hashim said an amount of Rs5.3 billion would also be spent on the development of livestock and dairy development, adding that federal government would share Rs 71 million in water sector, Rs16.6 million in crop and Rs 3.5 million and Rs1.3 million in fisheries and livestock sectors respectively.
He said the federal government had established implementation units for these projects in order to create close coordination with the provincial governments and appointed coordinator, adding that a special unit for crops were also established in NARC.
He further informed that other units for water sector, fisheries development were also established for the swift implementation of these projects and getting the optimal results.
He said excessive wheat output was expected during this year, adding that there were about four million tons of carry forward stocks and the respective provinces were asked to export the stocks as the commodity was competitive as compared the international markets. He said about 200,000 tons of potatoes were also exported during this season, adding that it would help the farmers to compensate the losses.
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