Message from Chief Minister NWFP

I congratulate the Federal Ministry of Agriculture on holding Farmers' Convention for development of agriculture and livestock and welfare of farmers at the national level.
The people and the Government of NWFP are thankful to the federal government especially the President Pervez Musharraf on sanctioning funds for the national programme for irrigation reforms and renovation of water courses.
This programme along with increasing agricultural production, will provide employment opportunity to 31 thousand people in the province directly and indirectly.
MMA's provincial government is endeavouring to make our province self-sufficient in food. In view of achieving the target of establishing agriculture on proper lines and developing it, provincial agriculture policy, agricultural strategy development of orchards, small dams projects for tackling drought situations and to store water resource, and policies for development of private sector in agriculture have been formulated.
For providing advice and other agricultural services to the farmers at affordable price at their door step, establishing Farm Services Centers at District and Tehsil levels, providing them certified quality seed at government rates through Frontier Seed Industry and to increase production of edible oil other than expanded cultivation for Sunflower, Soyabean, Peanuts, Canola and Olive grafting of wild olive plants is also being carried at a fast pace to produce high quality edible oils.
To enhance tea plantation production establishment of a processing plant is in its last phases. Apart from these renovation of 2000 water courses and construction of 350 water reservoirs with co-operation of World Bank and Asian Development Bank is also included under Irrigation Reform on Farm Water Management Programme.
There are 14 research centers working to prepare quality affordable production seeds in the province.
Steps like establishing units for promotion of high bread animals, prevention of diseases and producing seven for artificial breeding, and prevention of animals will certainly make the production of meat, milk and eggs increase significantly in the Frontier Province.
Along with this, work is continuing with financial assistance of the federal government on poverty alleviation programme, development of private sector and co-ordination on expansion and research.
It is expected that this Farmers Convention will helpful in achieving the tasks of Agriculture and Livestock development especially the welfare of the farmer community.