The government has initiated a programme aimed at capacity building of farmers of the tribal areas to enable them to harness the natural resources and equip them with improved technical know how to face the challenges and demands of the modern farming.
In this connection a sum of Rs 53.472 million has been provided for implementation of five development schemes in agriculture sector in North Waziristan. Out of this Rs 31.721 million have already been spent, while a sum of Rs 17.946 million has been set apart in the current financial year for the purpose.
The schemes pertain to intensification of horticulture, extension activities and introduction of cherry and pistachio in Razmak, establishment of four fruit nursery farms, block plantation of improved varieties of Dates and Ber, reclamation and development of culturable wasteland and establishment of Farm Services Centre to provide necessary information and expertise to the farmers, enhance their technical know how to replace indigenous seeds by high yielding improved varieties of seed with resistance to insects, pests and diseases.
Under this agriculture sector, extension and uplift programme, work is in full swing on a land reclamation project, launched during 2002-03, on which an expenditure of Rs 12 million has been incurred till June 2005 while Rs 3.60 million are being spent during 2005-06.
Over 1,500 acres of land has been reclaimed and developed under this scheme, whereas 495 acres culturable land is expected to be reclaimed and developed during 2005-06. The land reclamation scheme will give an additional area of 1995 acres to the farmers for raising their crops, vegetables and orchards.
The Farm Services Centre, a farmers-managed oriented and co-operative system is aimed at involving farming community in agriculture programmes and providing them a forum to solve their problems. It is being established at a cost of Rs 17.762 million. So far an expenditure of Rs 3.749 million has been incurred and Rs 4.967 million are proposed to be spent during the current financial year.
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