The Appraisal Panel of Agri-business Support Fund (ASF) in its nineteenth meeting, has approved grant of Rs 12.3 million to Farmers Enterprise Group (FEG) for 56 projects. There are around 560 farmers throughout Pakistan, who have the FEG membership, says an ASF spokesman here on Wednesday. With the help of grants, almost 20 dehydration units would be established for drying fruits and vegetables (16 in Chitral and 4 in Skardu).
The FEGs is rural micro enterprises set up with the aim of reducing poverty in rural areas of Pakistan. These FEGs are provided grants to set up value adding enterprises and thus increasing revenues for farmers. It is believed that previous dehydration units established by the FEG with the support of ASF in rest of the country have been proved extremely useful. The drying time in these units has been reduced by almost 50 percent.
In addition, the quality of products dried in these units has improved as the products are free from the adverse impacts of rain, dust and other contaminants. Approximately, two vegetable grading, washing, packing and marketing centres will be established in Punjab (one each in District Sheikopura and Nankana Sahib). These Centres will help the farmers supplying vegetables in bulk quantities to the market. The aim of ASF is to develop the agri-business sector in Pakistan and to support economic growth.
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