The Department of Agriculture Extension Fata has launched numerous programmes for improving the living standard of tribesmen through sustainable development of agriculture in tribal area.
The strategy adopted by the department was part of the drive launched by NWFP Governor, Lieutenant General, Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) for upliftment of Fata, informed Director Agriculture Extension Fata, Syed Zakir Ali Shah while talking to APP.
The NWFP Governor, he said, is determined to provide every possible help for capacity building of Fata farmers, enabling them to harness the natural resources, exploit their full potential and to equip them with improved technical know-how to face the challenges and demands of the modern day agriculture.
About the programmes, he said, these include land reclamation with community, training of farmers in off-season vegetables-mushrooms cultivation, establishing of farm services centres etc.
Aims and objectives of the department are to increase yields per acre of crops, fruits and vegetables to increase total production and productivity thereby raising income of farmers and improving their socio-economic status, he added.
Syed Zakir Ali Shah said farming is the main stay of Fata and constitutes an important pillar of economy of the area.
The department, he said, has started cultivation tea in Orakzai, Kurram and Bajaur agencies. From next year it will be started in South Waziristan agency at Razmak.
Tea gardens in these three agencies have been established and 25,000 tea plants are being raised this year. From next year 50,000 plants will be produced each year and distributed amongst the growers free of cost.
The growth of plants in the tea garden indicates a bright future of tea, he remarked.
Farm Services Centres have been established for solving the problems of farmers. The members of the centre are trained in seed production. They purchase basic category of seed from Agriculture Extension farms and sell to the seed producing members at cheaper rate.
The department has also started mushroom growing in the area. Mushroom is a crop of indoor cultivation and can be grown by the female also.
Four mushroom units have been established in South Waziristan, Kurram, Orakzai and Khyber agencies which serve as training centres. Keeping in view the small holding in Fata, growing of off-season vegetables through plastic tunnel technology has been introduced.
The department has started implementation of land reclamation project. This year 2625 acres land will be reclaimed on 70:30 (govt-owner) basis. Another mega project of reclaiming 21300 acre land has been submitted to federal government.
The agriculture department is also working on conversion of wild olive trees into oil bearing varieties.
There are around 10 million trees of wild olive in Fata which will be converted into oil bearing.
Presently, he said, a mega project of converting 2.5 million wild olive trees in oil bearing varieties though grafting and top working is at approval stage.
Fruit plants are high value crop and to increase income of the farmers per unit area, 3007 acres new orchards have been laid out in Fata during this spring.
Similarly, a project is launched to promote groundnut in Fata which is a cash crop and fetches reasonable returns to the farmers.
About plant protection, he said, farmers are being educated and persuaded to keep their field free from infestation. For the purpose, cleanliness of field, rotation of crop, disease resistant varieties, cultural practices and biological measures are emphasised.
For establishment of good marketing system in Fata a project has also been submitted with the government.
The programmes launched in Fata would broadened the vision of tribesmen and definitely change their attitude and behaviour, observed Director Agriculture Fata.
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