Agency for Barani Areas Development (ABAD) has launched "Barani Village Development Project" (BVDP) costing Rs 1 billion in collaboration with the provincial government and IFAD (International Fund for Agriculture Development) in six Barani tehsils of the Punjab.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the BVDP has started in Attock, Pindi Gheb, Talagang, Gujar Khan, Jand and Pind Dadan Khan.
The aim of launching of BVDP is to bring revolutionary changes in socio-economic conditions of the people living in these areas.
Under the project, special attention would be given to women development and social welfare, improvement of irrigation system, agriculture development and expansion, promotion of cottage industries, livestock development and practical research, construction of small dams etc.
Sources revealed that the ABAD had already initiated its various development projects in 13 districts of the province and now Sialkot district has been included in the project.
ABAD is not only concentrating on the promotion of agriculture in Barani areas but also focussing special attention on perking up socio-economic conditions of womenfolk of the areas.
Special steps would also be taken for averting the chances of wastage of rainwater and for this purpose, small dams would be constructed in Barani areas of the province.
Extraordinary efforts would be made for the improvement of watercourses for edging out the chances of wastage of rainwater for irrigating vast area in Barani areas of the Province.
Agency for Barani Areas Development and Asian Development Bank are jointly holding workshops on "Sustainable Livelihood in Barani Areas Project" for ascertaining the needs and requirements of farmers and cultivators of Barani areas for preparing projects.