The government has allocated Rs 12.5 billion for Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) in the annual budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) compared to Rs 1.8 billion in the fiscal year 2018-19.
The budget document shows an increase of 594 percent in funds allocated for 40 new and ongoing projects compared to outgoing fiscal year. According to the budget documents, the MNFS&R would execute 24 new and 16 ongoing projects during next financial year, 2019-20.
Under the PSDP 2019-20, an amount of Rs 1,100 million has been allocated for enhancing command area of small and mini dams in Barani areas while Rs 600 million have been earmarked for national oilseed enhancement programme.
Out of the total amount allocated for MNFS&R, Rs 650 million are approved for productivity enhancement of wheat and Rs 550 million have been set aside for national programme for improvement of watercourses in Pakistan, phase-II.
In the budget 2019-20, Rs 450 million have been allocated for productivity enhancement of rice and another Rs 400 million are earmarked for pilot project of development of shrimp farming cluster.
According to the budget documents, Rs 400 have been allocated for conservation and efficient use of water in under-process barani areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Rs 400 million have been earmarked for promotion of olive cultivation on commercial scale in Pakistan. Under the PSDP, Rs 300 million are earmarked for national pesticides residues monitoring system in Pakistan and Rs 200 million have been allocated for Prime Minister's initiative for Save the Calf.
The government allocated Rs 200 million for promotion of trout cage farming in northern areas of Pakistan and earmarked Rs 200 for productivity enhancement of sugarcane.
In the budget, Rs 113.863 million are allocated for risk-based control of foot and mouth disease, besides setting aside Rs 100 million for establishment of plant breeders' rights.