Jun 10, 2022: The government has allocated Rs10.129 billion for the completion of 29 ongoing and to start 04 new agriculture sector uplift projects under its Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2022-23 for ensuring food safety and security in the country.

According to a budget document, the government has proposed to spend Rs9,079.954 million for the completion of 29 ongoing developmental projects and Rs1,049.180 million for 04 new developmental schemes to put the agriculture sector on fast track development.

Under PSDP 2022-23, the government has earmarked Rs1,000 million for the promotion of olive cultivation on a commercial scale in Pakistan phase-II in order to promote oil seeds output to tackle the domestic requirements as well as reduce the reliance on imported edible oil.

Meanwhile, the government has also proposed to spend Rs2,000 million for the national program for the improvement of water courses in Pakistan Phase-II, which aims at conserving rapidly reducing water resources to bring more areas under crop production.

In PSDP for the fiscal year 2022-23, the government has also allocated Rs800 million for the national program for the enhancement of command areas in barani areas in the country and Rs 130 million for better cotton initiatives.

Meanwhile, an amount of Rs 700 million was allocated for the national oil seed enhancement program in order to increase the area under oil seeds cultivation for enhancing the farm income of farmers, particularly small-scale growers.

The government in its annual development agenda has allocated an amount of Rs200 million allocated for saving the calve program, Rs199.251 million for pilot shrimp farming cluster development, and Rs50 million for backyard poultry farming.

In order to enhance the output of all major crops including wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize, and cotton, the government has allocated funds in its annual development program and earmarked an amount of Rs350 million for wheat productivity enhancement, Rs270 million for rice, and Rs130 million for sugarcane output enhancement.

To overcome the locust challenge that had created serious threats for agriculture during last year, the government has allocated Rs800 million for locust emergency and food security projects and Rs200 million for quality seed production and supply to the farming community for enhancing food security in the country.

In PSDP for fiscal year 2022-23, the government has earmarked Rs40 million for mainstreaming of the Mountain Agriculture Research Center(MARS) for the promotion of high-value agriculture in Gilgit-Baltistan.

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