Balochistan Govt To Allocate 30% Of PSDP For Promoting Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock

ISLAMABAD, May 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2019 ) :Balochistan government has planned to allocate 30 per cent of the total next Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) funds for promoting agriculture, fisheries, livestock and transport sectors to create income opportunities for the local communities.

Talking to APP, an official on Sunday said that the government had been working to bring a new agriculture policy to increase the agricultural production which would ultimately benefit the farmers.

He added that the provincial government was looking for a ban on the import of vegetables and other agriculture produces from Afghanistan and Iran.

He further said that latest technologies would be introduced to enhance the productivity of agriculture in the province.

Meanwhile Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar said that the prolonged droughts had marred the agriculture sector.

He urged the provincial government to introduce loan scheme, especially for women for cottage industry, mushroom cultivation, poultry farming, goat/sheep farming, ostrich farming, bee keeping and vegetable cultivation.

He suggested the government to establish advisory centres for providing guidance and technical assistance to farmers pertaining to whole cropping cycle.

The Senator viewed that the people related to agriculture sectors mainly lived in remote areas and due to the lack of information they could not avail these facilities.

He urged the government to play its role in capacity building, facilitation and education farmers and recommended to initiate programmes related to value addition of the agricultural products.

The Senator asked to arrange session for stakeholders and progressive farmers for enhancing overall crop production and steps to encourage cultivation of long staple cotton.

He suggested that cotton production should also be initiated in Balochistan to enhance its overall yield.

He asked the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) to organize wheat seminars with proper management and invite 50 growers from each district to participate in the seminar in their respective areas.

He urged the PARC to fulfill the vacant posts and ensure the provincial quota and also develop agricultural research institutions across the province to overcome dearth of expertise.