Govt releases Rs307 million for food security projects under PSDP for FY2019-20

September 3, 2019: The government has released Rs. 307 million for several agriculture uplift projects under its Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the financial year 2019-20 as against the total allocation of Rs. 12,047 million.

The amount was released for the completion of several on-going development projects, besides initiating new projects to promote the agriculture and livestock sectors on modern lines for making it profitable by enhancing per-acre crop yield.

According to latest data released by the Planning Commission of Pakistan, by the end of August, 2019, the government had released Rs. 80 million for promotion of olive cultivation on commercial scale as against the total allocation of Rs. 400 million for the current fiscal year.

Meanwhile, an amount of Rs. 60 million was also released for national pesticides resides residues monitoring system in the country, the government had earmarked an amount of Rs. 300 million for this project in its annual development program for the year 2019-20.

In order to exploit the agriculture and livestock potential in tribal areas of the country, the government had allocated an amount Rs. 275 million for up-gradation of Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) to the level of AZRC and establishment of new adaptive res. cum demonstration institute at Seakach, Wana, South Waziristan Agency, Miranshah, North Waziristan Agencies (FATA) Tank and Matora, Lakki Marwat. The government had released Rs. 55 million for the above mentioned projects for the development of agriculture and livestock sectors in these areas.

The government had also released Rs. 30 million for strengthening, up-gradation of agriculture and livestock research system of Arid Zone Research Institute, Umerkot, and Sindh as the government had allocated Rs. 150 million for this project for current financial year.

Under PSDP 2019-20, Rs. 20 million released for establishment of plant breeders rights registry and strengthening of DUS examination system and Rs. 10 million for better cotton initiatives respectively to enhance cotton production in the country as an amount of Rs. 100 million and Rs. 50 million had been allocated for both above mentioned projects.

APP