ISLAMABAD: The government has allocated Rs 12017.280 million for Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) in the annual budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), compared to Rs 12000 million in the FY 2020-21.

The budget document shows an increase of 0.144 percent in funds allocated for various attached departments of MNFS&R with eight new projects worth Rs 3878.114 million and 26 ongoing projects of Rs 8139.166 million budgeted for FY 2021-22.

Under the PSDP 2021-22, an amount of Rs 3000 million has been allocated for National Programme for improvement of Watercourses in Pakistan Phase II, while Rs 1000 has been earmarked for locust emergency and food security project.

Out of the total amount allocated for MNFS&R, Rs 955 million has been budgeted for promotion of olive cultivation on commercial scale in Pakistan phase-II, Rs 900 million for productivity enhancement of wheat and another 840.744 million national program for animal disease surveillance.

According to the budget document, Rs 700 million has been budgeted for enhancement command area of small and mini dams in Barani areas of Pakistan, Rs 527.421 million has been earmarked for productivity enhancement of Rice and Rs 350 million for water conservation in Barani area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The government allocated Rs324.118 million for strengthening, upgrade and accreditation of national labs in compliance with national and international standards on food quality and safety, Rs 290 million for the establishment of consumer-sourcing seed authenticity system and strengthening of Labs of Federal Seed Certification and Research Department (FSC&RD) and anotherRs261.843 million earmarked for promoting research for productivity enhancement in pulses.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021